Fuel procurement audit to be discussed in Public Accounts Committee

Opposition suggests first meeting to be held next week to discuss NAO audit of fuel procurement policy

7 August 2013, 12:00am
by James J. Piscopo

1 min read

Both Muscat and Busuttil have agreed to hold discussions in the PAC on Malta's fuel procurement policy.

The findings of the National Audit Office about oil procurement are to be discussed within the Public Accounts Committee in the coming weeks, the government said this afternoon.

Earlier today, the leader of Opposition Simon Busuttil said that “Nationalists wanted the truth to be publicly discussed” and thus he proposed these discussions to be held even during the summer recess.

In a statement, the government welcomed the declaration of the PN leader after weeks of silence about the oil procurement report. It said first preparations should take place later on this week when the House Business committee meets up.

The government did not exclude the possibility that discussions continue during Parliamentary debates.

In response to the Government’s declaration, the Nationalist Party proposed the Public Accounts Committee to meet next Tuesday, 13th August.

“In this meeting, agreement should be sought on the witness list, the procedures and number of meetings required. This confirms the PN’s commitment on addressing this issue in the most transparent way,” a PN statement read.

The statement also said that while in Government, the PN empowered the relevant institutions to investigate the case, giving a presidential pardon in the process.

Addressing the media, the Prime Minister said it would be appropriate that former ministers give their version of events during these discussions.

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Now when was the last time that we saw such co-operation between the leaders of the PL and PN? Very accommodating both sides hoping that they will win. Why was the Presidential Pardon even brought up? Hopefully we will have the Whistle Blower Law enacted by then. I hope Presidential Pardons will not become a habit. It was wrong for the EX PM to use it in the first place because nothing new came out of it, except absolving George Farrugia for his sins, well at least from what we know. If there are discrepancies found, then those responsible should be brought to justice and let justice take it's course.