In the Press: Civil unions bill to pass today | Team to address bed shortages at Mater Dei

All the newspapers report on the civil unions bill, due to be passed through parliament later today. The bill will allow same-sex couples the legal recognition, rights and obligations are heterosexual couples, including the right to adopt children jointly. 

The Times of Malta

After breaking the news that the illegal dumping of slurry was taking place on agricultural land, The Times reports that inspectors have taken soil samples from the sites in question but the issue of groundwater contamination remains unsolved. Neither the Agricultural department nor the Environmental Health Directorate have claimed the problem as being within their remit although the EHD said that yearly sampling of produce for safety testing is ongoing. 

In-Nazzjon

Charles Mangion is expected to recalim a place in Parliament, following casual elections in the sixth district tomorrow. Four Labour candidates are contesting for the position left open by Maire Louise Coleiro Preca's resignation, following her nomination as President. These are Mangion, Gavin Gulia, Emanuel Micallef and Simon Saliba.

L-Orizzont

The PN has accused the government of only being concerned with civil rights in situations where there are votes to be won. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil spoke in reference to the legal notice that gives the Education minister access to student data, a notice the Opposition intends to debate in parliament today. Busuttil questionned the reasons the minister would require such data, accusing him of using it to further his political power. 

The Malta Independent

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Chris Fearne said, on a news programme yesterday, that his office and that of the Ministry of Health and Energy were working together to appoint a project team to address the problem of bed shortages at Mater Dei. The team will be dedicated to finding solutions to the problem and Fearne also hinted at more initiatives, aimed at reducing waiting lists for surgical procedures, to be announced soon.