Former Health Minister John Dalli today said that he had been informed about the closure of the project agreement regarding Mater Dei Hospital about six weks after it was signed.
In a statement issued this morning, Mr Dalli said that yesterday he gave evidence in the enquiry being made about the quality issues in the concrete at Mater Dei, being conducted by Judge Emeritus Philip Sciberras.
"During this session it was established that I was only informed about the closure of the Project Closure Agreement about 6 weeks after it was signed.
"This resulted from an email sent by Mr Paul Camilleri to me on the 5th April 2009 (the project was signed on the 19th February 2009). It says:
“Dear John,
I realize that 1 have not communicated with you directly regarding the closure of negotiations with Skanska, despite the fact that Brian advised me that he had briefly informed you about it.”
"It proceeds to list the salient points of the contract. These salient points on which I could have been briefly informed, do not mention waivers, especially the additional waiver agreed to at the end of the contract.
"This shows the dishonesty and malicious intent of those who tried to point fingers at me in an attempt to extrapolate some bad practice or intent on my part. These same people must have known about these facts," Mr DAlli said.