MPs welcome Public Administration Bill

Nationalist MPs on Tuesday highlighted various aspects of the Public Administration Bill when speaking in Parliament.

Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi said the public service needed to respond to the new needs imposed by society, and this Bill was being enacted for this purpose. Among other benefits, it would enable public officers to specialise in their areas. New administrative structures should make it possible for the public sector to get the best out of its employees.

Mr Azzopardi said public service reform was launched in 1990 and significant progress had been made since then. Working conditions and salaries had been improved, information technology had been introduced across all departments and quality service charters were also drawn up. Public-private partnerships were formed for some sectors, enabling better utilisation of resources.

Unfortunately, he said, a number of employees did not appreciate that taxpayers paid them to serve the people. A frequent cause of complaint was that queries were not answered on time.

People's expectations on the quality of service had rightly been raised, and the public service should meet those expectations at all times.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech spoke on how, over the years, the government had introduced subsidiarity and set up new scrutiny mechanisms to deter abuse, thus strengthening democracy, fundamental human rights and access to information.

Furthermore, in its campaign for EU membership the government had argued that as a European people, the Maltese should have the EU structures to serve them, and this was now the case.

This, he said, was the first time that Malta would have a law which would comprehensively regulate a modern public service.

Success for the public service, however, depended on the readiness of its personnel to serve the people fairly, efficiently and without political considerations.

Dr Zammit Dimech said this Bill introduced a review mechanism to monitor recruitment in government agencies. It gave new responsibilities to heads of department and established better guidelines on the application of discipline. The Bill regulated both recruitment and promotions, with a strong emphasis being placed on merit.

Nationalist MP Joe Falzon said the bill was aimed as affirming the values of the public sector as an instrument for the common good.

It was a shame that in the past the public administration had been hindered by political interference. Those times were now being forgotten.

Mr Falzon said the majority of public service employees gave a good account of themselves in the service of the country.

The Nationalist MP said local councils too had an important role in public administration. Unfortunately, however, some councils were hindering the government more than seeing to the interests of their localities.

Mr Falzon said that public administration should not be used as a political football but as a reflection of the country's efficiency.

Nationalist MP Joe Cassar said public administration had improved greatly under the Nationalist government. Many family-friendly measures had been adopted, with the government showing itself to be a model employer.

The Bill was better defining the role of the various officers in the public service, such as permanent secretaries and heads of department. The law's biggest breakthrough was that it looked at the whole public sector (and not just the civil service). Although the setting up of agencies, corporations and commissions had been positive, sometimes they did not seem to speak the same language. A unifying factor had been missing, but the Bill would be providing that.

The bill would also instil accountability and listed the values which should govern the public service, such as efficiency, giving objective advice and effectively implementing government policy.

He hoped that this Bill would lead to people working in the public sector to speak out on the satisfaction which their role gave them.

Dr Cassar welcomed the provisions of the Bill on whistle-blowing, protecting from victimisation all workers who uncovered abuse.