In parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Education, Youth and Employment Louis Galea commented on the Prime Minister’s press conference that was held on Monday regarding the Public Administration Bill.
The Nationalist Party is committed towards transparency, accountability and efficiency, he said. Dr Galea denied allegations made by Opposition Leader Alfred Sant about the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS) contracts that were being given to contractors within Dr Galea’s electoral districts and said that such allegations were unfounded and false.
Dr Galea substantiated his claim by saying that the contractors come from every corner of the country and that only seven from 124 contractors that are involved in these projects come from the two districts in which he contests. According to Dr Galea, it is now a common occurrence that Dr Sant makes allegations that are unfounded and that are denied by institutions such as the law courts and the Ombudsman.
Nationalist MP Mario Galea asked whether the Opposition Leader is more interested in making allegations rather than telling the truth.
Opposition information technology spokesman Leo Brincat said that a whistleblowing act should be implemented as it would cater for the abuse committed by the civil servants.
Responding to the questions, Dr Galea said that the words transparency, efficiency and accountability are just a slogan for the Labour Party while they are a reality for the Nationalist Party.
The continuation of the second reading of the amendments to the Medicines Act was the next item on the agenda. Nationalist MP Mario Galea insisted that there should be a consensual approach by both parties of the house. Opposition should criticise but it should also acknowledge what is good. Referring to the incident in which water leaked into the premises of the new hospital, Mr Galea said that such occurrences can happen as the site is still under construction. The Mater Dei hospital is still in the hands of the contractor and work is still being done. Mr Galea welcomed the fact that the nurses’ course has been elevated to a university course. For the first time we have tissue viability nurses, a bereavement midwife, infection control nurses and nurses that specialise on nutrition and other new areas. The Nationalist MP insisted on having an educational campaign intended to educate the patient. The patient should be educated as it is important for the rehabilitation of the patient so they can be released from hospital in the least time possible.
Nationalist MP Joe Cassar said that the government is a consulting government. Dr Cassar said that the amendments to the Medicines Act, albeit somewhat technical, are positive amendments. The criticism in the health division should be done constructively as it affects the individual. Thus, whoever criticises, should do so attentively.
Labour Cooperatives spokesman Joe Abela spoke about the problem of access to medicines. It is the doctors’ obligation to inform the patient about the side effects of a particular medicine. The Labour MP said that advertisements should be focused on health promotion and not advertising the aesthetical qualities of the hospital and saying that such a hospital is a state-of-the-art hospital.
Labour MP Helena Dalli ended the debate by saying that it takes two to tango. Although Mr Galea mentioned a consensual approach, Mrs Dalli said that a consensual approach can only be implemented if both parties agree to the approach in question. In no way was the Labour Party going to consent to coffee mornings taking place at the hospital. She also pointed out that advertising of the hospital was intended as political propaganda.