Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Cabinet in his administration did not see the controversial 2009 waiver on the Mater Dei final agreement with Skanska, and that it would have never authorised such an accord.

The waiver exonerates the Swedish company from any liability on the hospital, and has been the subject of a controversy ever since it emerged that the concrete used in the project was weaker than specified in the contract.

On Sunday, John Dalli, who was health minister at the time, said he would have taken the contract before Cabinet for its approval.

But Dr Gonzi has said that after he consulted some of his former ministers, his recollection is that such a waiver was never brought before Cabinet for its approval.

He said that he would have never agreed to such a waiver. "I would have never authorised or countenanced such a blanket waiver," he said.

The government has said that such a waiver will cost the country €30 million in necessary structural works at the hospital.