Ms Pirotta, Godwin Grima, Tony Mifsud and Charles Deguara were all appointed as new Permanent Secretaries, but the prime minister emphasised the significance of having a woman occupying one of the posts. “She was the most competent person for the job,” he said, explaining that for the last three years Ms Pirotta has been a director with the government as well as an ambassador for Malta.

The new Permanent Secretary said she it gives her great satisfaction, on a personal and professional level, to see women in top management. She said she will give as much input as anyone worthy of the post and she hopes she is the first in a series of women to take this step.

“I am confident that we will begin to see more women in top positions,” said Ms Attard Pirotta. The only downside she could find is that Malta is now lacking a woman ambassador, which is the post she occupied prior to being appointed Permanent Secretary. She said she hopes that a new woman ambassador will step into her shoes.

Dr Gonzi said that 13 per cent of government directors are female and this shows that more women are reaching a high level of competence and want to advance in their careers.

“The government wanted more women in decision-making positions and the appointment of a female permanent secretary is a step in the right direction,” the prime minister continued.

Mr Grima will be the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister as part of the internal reforms.

Mr Mifsud has been appointed to the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry, Mr Deguara to the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry and Ms Attard Pirotta to the Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion Ministry. All four people are capable and were chosen for their high achievements and competence, Dr Gonzi concluded.