While PL MP Robert Abela insists that he will not be dropping his consultancies with government entities after the reports issued by the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, MPs Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Edward Zammit Lewis and Glenn Bedingfield – who all in some way or another work for or provide consultancies to government or government entities - said that the government is conducting its analysis.

Commissioner for Standards George Hyzler had, last week, issued a report calling for an end to the practice of giving backbench members of Parliament jobs or consultancies with the government. The report describes the practice as “fundamentally wrong”.

The report was is the result of a complaint from PD Leader Godfrey Farrugia, who requested the Commissioner to investigate whether MPs who served as employees of or consultants to the government had a conflict of interest.

The Commissioner concluded that this practice dilutes Parliament’s role of scrutinising the Executive; goes against the underlying principles of the Constitution; goes against the Code of Ethics of Public Employees and Board Members; places MPs in a position of financial dependence on the Executive and hence reduces the independence of MPs; discriminates between Government and Opposition MPs and gives Government MPs an advantage over Opposition MPs; overly politicises statutory bodies and distorts their independence from the Government of the day; exacerbates the questionable practice of appointment of persons of trust, that possibly goes against article 110 of the Constitution; and creates unnecessary jobs, or else fills genuine vacancies with persons who are not necessarily best suited for that job, against principles of transparency and meritocracy.

In addition, he concluded that the engagement of MPs as persons of trust possibly constitutes a breach of the Constitution, although this would need to be determined by the Constitutional Court.

On Monday, the Office of the Prime Minister said that it has tasked the head of the civil service to coordinate the analysis of the report issued by Commissioner Hyzler and present it for analysis and consideration. The analysis, the statement read, will include the legal and administrative points raised in the Hyzler report. The government committed to publishing this analysis.

This newsroom spoke with four PL backbenchers who, in some way or form work with the government or are retained as consultants, asking them whether in light of this report they will be resigning from their position.

Robert Abela was employed on a contract of service basis. In 2017, a Parliamentary question revealed that he earned more than €580,000 as a consultant, acting as the Prime Minister’s ‘legal advisor’.

Asked by this newsroom whether he will cease his consultancies with the government, following the report, Abela said “absolutely not. The Hyzler report confirms that everyone offering legal counsel to government is doing nothing against the law.

Asked whether he believes he has a conflict of interest given that he cannot speak objectively if he is an MP and at the same time is a consultant for government. “You’re mistaken. It is something I do regularly. Not only do I speak objectively but I speak critically where I have to.”

He clarified that he is a consultant with an authority and again stressed that he has no issue being critical. He said that he took the Parliamentary oath and where he feels he needs to be critical he is and is vociferous when he needs to criticise.

MP Edward Zammit Lewis was given a retainer with Identity Malta for consultancy services, whilst in November 2018 it was revealed that he was providing legal consultancy to Water and Energy Minister Joe Mizzi, on the direct recommendation of the OPM.

Zammit Lewis said that the government issued its position and is analysing. He said that these are situations that were started by the PN with Parliamentary assistants. “We are not saying that he (Hyzler) is right in everything but the government will issue its analysis and criticism and we will see from there.”

Told that he actually has positions with the government, in terms of consultancies, and given there is a conflict whether he will resign he said: “I gave you a good explanation.”

PL MP Glenn Bedingfield has a full-time job with the government.

He said that the government is analysing the report, when asked whether he would step down from that position. He said that he does not think it is about him or someone individually but about seeing the right course forward. He said points of discussion were raised and it is good to discuss them and that from there “we will see what results from the discussion.”

MP Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi was appointed as Chairman of the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation and also was given a contract through the OPM for legal services to the state utilities billing agency, ARMS. Zrinzo Azzopardi said that the government is conducting its analysis, in response to whether he will resign from such posts, and whether he has a conflict of interest given he is the GHRC chairman.

 

Video: Alenka Falzon