St Philip’s deal should be scrutinised before signing - Muscat

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has reiterated that the St Philip's Hospital acquisition deal should be scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) before the deal is signed.

He was speaking during a meeting with representatives of the Malta Dockers Union, in the wake of a lengthy and spirited parliamentary debate which discussed the proposed acquisition of St Philip's Hospital.

"The window of opportunity is still open. There is still time to take the deal before the Public Accounts Committee as long as the deal has not been signed yet," Muscat said.

Muscat once again dismissed the government's proposal that the hospital acquisition be scrutinised by the PAC after it is signed. "There is little point in conducting an autopsy after the act," Muscat insisted. "Yesterday, we discussed a deal which we knew nothing about. Let us gather around a table and see what's what.

"If we are convinced about it, we will be the first to back government," Muscat said, describing the acquisition deal issue as "an opportunity to foster cooperation between both sides of the House."

He also said that PAC chairman Charles Mangion had already communicated an agenda to the other members of the committee which included items for the St Philip's deal to be scrutinised in the coming week.

"There are many big questions regarding the deal," Muscat said. "The biggest is whether government gave serious consideration to all options on the table."

Muscat also noted that the MEPA permit for St Philip's Hospital had specified that the hospital offers 75 beds. However, government is saying that this capacity will be extended to 285. "Does this mean that patients will be moved into a construction site in progress?"

Muscat also said that other minor issues require due consideration, adding that the current car park allocation for the hospital caters for a volume that will prove insufficient should the hospital capacity be considerably extended.

Asked for a reaction to independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's attempts to become a full voting member of the PAC, Muscat said that this was a situation that government had to face. "As a coalition government, it needs to address why the MP it is in coalition with has felt the need to push for greater inclusion," he said without commenting any further.

In a brief address before the meeting, the representatives of the Malta Dockers' Union called for greater social dialogue between workers, employers, and government authorities, which is "the foundation for concrete and sustainable economic growth."

They also said that the EU's efforts to establish a common docking law would have serious repercussions for local dock workers, emphasised that this is unacceptable.

In reaction, Muscat said that the PL is committed to safeguarding the interests of dock workers and insisted that the PL will uphold the reform that was recently carried out. "We see no need to change that we already agreed to."

He also said that a Labour Government would oppose any new directives for the establishment of a common docking law, adding that this would create an uneven playing field which would lead to unsafe and precarious employment for local dock workers.

He added that he expects Labour MEPs to adopt "a similar position."