MP raises conflict of interest issue

Labour MP Joe Mizzi yesterday asked Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett whether he saw a conflict of interest in the fact that a personal friend of his, who is a partner in a company with the minister, was the supervisors' representative of Malta Planning and Design Consultants for Lot 1 of works financed by the Italian financial protocol.

Mr Mugliett said that as minister he was not involved in the adjudication or approval of supervisors or their representatives.

The minister was also asked if he could confirm that this person, on his own, headed another company, called Design and Technical Resources Ltd, which had been awarded the tender for works on Manwel Dimech Bridge and which employed the same staff as the company in which the minister was involved.

The minister said this question was not in line with Standing Orders.

Mr Mizzi insisted that his question was in order, once it had been accepted by the Speakers' Office and published on the Order Paper. He therefore demanded a ruling from the Speaker.

Speaker Anton Tabone said he would rule at the opportune moment.

Mr Mizzi then asked the Speaker to name the minister and raised a breach of privilege complaint.

Mr Tabone insisted he would rule on another occasion.

At this point Mr Mizzi made a call for quorum. The sitting was suspended for five minutes, after which Mr Tabone declared there was no quorum.

Mr Mizzi said he was not insisting on his call. The sitting then resumed normally.