Minister ‘wouldn’t be surprised' if PN placed note reserving beds for SVPR CEO

Comedy is the last thing one would expect to encounter when sensationalism and shifty politics lock horns, but the descent into chaos of a press conference about cross-border adoptions earlier today could have easily passed as a scene from 30 Rock.

A question-and-answer session that followed the press conference by Family Minister Michael Farrugia saw a NET TV journalist asking the Minister to explain why the CEO of St Vincent de Paul home for the elderly would have “reserved beds”.

To prove his point, the reporter waved a photocopy of what he claimed was a sign stuck to a noticeboard at St. Vincent De Paul home for the elderly, reserving two beds on direct order from the hospital's Chief Executive.

For who and what for remains shrouded in mystery, but it allowed the reporter to segue into “recent reports of negligence and discrimination between patients and workers at SVPR,” accusations of attempting to cover these up and a call for the suspension of the CEO and investigations of the “very serious allegations.”

With questions being fired one after the other, Farrugia failed to make a dignified exit when he had the chance and instead attempted a retort.

The Minister invited the reporter “to lift fingerprints” from the notice, adding that “it probably was planted there by the opposition”.

“Nothing will shock me,” Farrugia repeated over the reporter's protestations at the ill-judged remark. 



Voicing disbelief at the Minister’s accusation, the reporter started firing questions again, prompting an annoyed reaction by Farrugia. “Stop being arrogant,” Farrugia said, drowning out the repeated questions. “Stop being arrogant and showing that you're too ignorant to even read.” 

“Are you calling a journalist ignorant?” came the faux-incredulous reply.

“Are you going to apologise? You have just insulted a journalist and called him ignorant!” said the reporter.