It must be said that the Brussels property project was conceived, controlled and pushed by the Permanent Representative in Brussels.

He has the responsibility to ensure how the 40 to 50 staff, who are Malta's representatives in Brussels will be accommodated and provided with decent, adequate office space from which to operate.

The choice of the site, and its eventual change, were his responsibility, as were the specifications for refurbishment and the choice of experts and professionals who assisted in this exercise.

As Minister of Finance I was involved in the decision of whether to buy or rent the property. I am in favour of the government purchasing the properties it uses, not just in Brussels, but also in the various countries in which we have a representation.

Especially now, when interest rates are so low and rents are still relatively high, it makes financial and economic sense that, instead of paying rent year after year to use offices and residences abroad, the government buys the property, even through loans, and uses the money he would have paid in rent to service the loan.

At the end of the day, the government would end up owning a property that would have a value whichm in ordinary circumstancesm would be a multiple of the price paid for the property originally.

As I have always taken my decisions in the most objective manner, I stand by my decisions and do not squirm around trying to pass the buck to somebody else as if it were a hot potato.

Your columnist also mentioned a property bought in China.

I do not know of any such transaction.

John Dalli MP

It must be said that the Brussels property project was conceived, controlled and pushed by the Permanent Representative in Brussels.

He has the responsibility to ensure how the 40 to 50 staff, who are Malta's representatives in Brussels will be accommodated and provided with decent, adequate office space from which to operate.

The choice of the site, and its eventual change, were his responsibility, as were the specifications for refurbishment and the choice of experts and professionals who assisted in this exercise.

As Minister of Finance I was involved in the decision of whether to buy or rent the property. I am in favour of the government purchasing the properties it uses, not just in Brussels, but also in the various countries in which we have a representation.

Especially now, when interest rates are so low and rents are still relatively high, it makes financial and economic sense that, instead of paying rent year after year to use offices and residences abroad, the government buys the property, even through loans, and uses the money he would have paid in rent to service the loan.

At the end of the day, the government would end up owning a property that would have a value whichm in ordinary circumstancesm would be a multiple of the price paid for the property originally.

As I have always taken my decisions in the most objective manner, I stand by my decisions and do not squirm around trying to pass the buck to somebody else as if it were a hot potato.

Your columnist also mentioned a property bought in China.

I do not know of any such transaction.

John Dalli MP