Nationalist Party Leader Adrian Delia this morning said he had given PN MPs a free vote in  last week’s IVF amendments vote, and that all MPs voted unanimously against the controversial proposals.

Last week the entire PN parliamentary group voted against the IVF amendments bill in its second reading stage. The amendments propose, among other things, the introduction of embryo freezing, surrogacy and anonymous embryo donation. The PL has attacked Delia for ‘not giving a free vote’, reminding that he had promised free votes on ethical issues when campaigning for the post he now occupies.

Because all PN MPs voted against the amendments, some questioned whether a free vote had been given, as had been promised by Delia. Speaking in Attard on Sunday morning, Delia said he had indeed given a free vote. “They tried to make fun of us because we discussed the issue until midnight. Well that is how we do things, without ordering, without imposing.”

Delia said all PN MPs had voted against the amendments because the party is in favour of life. “We respect those couples who have infertility problems and will do everything possible to help them, but there is a red line – we will never destroy life,” he said.

The PN leader said the government was insisting that the bill was aimed at helping people. “What is it doing to help those who have nowhere to stay, for the Gozitan students who cannot afford accommodation and for those suffering from medical issues that are not covered by national health schemes,” he asked.

Delia said the PN would be focusing on such issues, showing people that the party was not interested in photo-ops but rather in showing people that it was truly with them.

He also referred to the high energy bills, reminding his audience how the PL’s main battle cry in the 2013 general election was the promise of reducing electricity bills. Delia charged that the government had entered into agreements (in the energy sector) which were “specifically designed so that large sums of money could be moved elsewhere.”

“We are the ones paying for this chess game, this theft.” He appealed to people to check their energy bills and to take them to the Nationalist Party, which is studying the situation.

“From a sample of the first hundred bills brought to use it is clear that every household is being robbed anywhere between €60 and €600,” Delia claimed, adding that this government was breaking the law.

Two people have already taken the government to court. I am not expecting you to go to court as well but we will speak on your behalf. When that happens the government will have to listen and in fact it has ordered a review of the system,” he continued.

Delia said the PN would not rest until people were paid back every last cent they were robbed.

Turning to the Vitals hospitals issue, Delia accused the government of trying to stall the court investigations he had requested, but promised that the PN would uncover and make public what the government wanted to keep hidden.

The Nationalist Party leader also referred to the recent attack on police sergeant Simon Schembri, who was run over and dragged under a car driven by a 17-year-old in Luqa. He said it was shameful how the government was trying to turn the tragedy into a political football. “Simon Schembri is a hero who went beyond the call of duty,” he said.

Delia insisted that the PN respected the hundreds of police officers who diligently went about their duties every day. The people the PN has a problem with, he said, are the people at the top, “the ones who stop those under them from carrying out their work.”

 Delia said Schembri had told him during a hospital visit that he hoped people would not lose faith in the police force. The PN leader promised that the PN would do everything it could to strengthen the force.

He also referred to a recent statement by Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia, who said the government would find “alternate employment” for the officer, who lost an arm in the ordeal.

“Simon is a national hero and he should be treated as such. Let us compensate him deservingly and ensure that he and his family are never left in need of anything.”

Turning to the construction boom, Delia referred to new data showing that Malta was the most built up country in Europe. He also spoke about problems within the sector, such as workers not being paid their salaries. Delia said the government was only interested in spending money on marketing campaigns but the PN would give priority planning, the environment and education.