PM favours pay rise for ministers, MPs
Ministers and MPs should receive more remuneration for their work, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi tells The Sunday Times in an interview today.
Dr Gonzi said: "I believe a minister should receive the salary he or she gets today, but on top of that also receive the parliamentary honorarium, because the minister is not just carrying out his function as a minister but is attending Parliament as much as - if not more than - other MPs."
In his first newspaper interview (see http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080504/interview/a-plan-for-a-new-beginning) since the election, Dr Gonzi also says it is time to raise the €1,400 (Lm600) spending limit on candidates' election campaigns.
The Prime Minister sees sustainable development as the country's biggest challenge as he grapples with reforming the Malta Planning and Environment Authority.
"You've got to be very careful not to have a system that then stagnates the whole economy... I believe that, as a rule, Outside Development Zone applications should be turned down. However, we should have a transparent mechanism which allows certain types of development in ODZ, mostly agricultural in nature."
Dr Gonzi also says that in spite of having a one-seat majority, he will have a "strong" government with a "strong" programme that will last the full term.
"It would be a disaster for this country to go for an early election... For a country to move forward in the world we're living in today, political and economic stability are fundamental ingredients."
The Prime Minister also expresses concern about maintaining economic progress in the face of a global crisis and said planned income tax cuts may be staggered if necessary.
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Maria Dolores Fenech
May 5th 2008, 09:41
Aha, so now the PM is considering development in ODZ! Quote: You've got to be very careful not to have a system that then stagnates the whole economy... I believe that, as a rule, Outside Development Zone applications should be turned down. However, we should have a transparent mechanism which allows certain types of development in ODZ, mostly agricultural in nature."
This is not the message he was sending prior to the election. What have the NGOs and the Opposition to say to this??!!!
Kevin Zammit
May 4th 2008, 21:10
Robert,
Are you being serious? My point was that we have too many not less. Maybe you need to take another look at your figures.
Still thank you, a good case in point. At the rate we're going we will not be any better :D
Check out Nauru's history and have a laugh ... or cry.
Robert Scullion
May 4th 2008, 18:59
Don't really see your point Kevin Zammit.
For example -- sources Wikipedia & CIA Factbook
Republic of Nauru
============
Nauru Parliament - 18 members
Population - 13,770
765 per member
Maybe the Parliament should be based of these figures .. a mere 558 member!!!
Having less members doesn't mean a better Government. Also Ireland maybe not the best example to use (depending on your point of view) since the PM there is leaving office next Tuesday (6th May) under a cloud of corruption, which has also haunted the governing party for the past 20-30 years.
Kevin Zammit
May 4th 2008, 17:12
Source: Wikipedia for number of parliamentarians and www.cia.gov for population numbers
United Kingdon
============
House of Commons 646 population
House of lords - 738
Total: 1384
Population 60,943,912
44,002 per politician
Italy
===
Senato - 315
Camera dei deputati - 630
Total = 945
Population 58,145,321
61,529 per politician
Ireland
======
Lower house (Dáil Éireann) 166
Upper House (Seanad Éireann) 60
Total = 226
Population 4,156,119
18,390 per politician
Malta
====
Members of Parliament: 69
Population 403,532
5,848 per Politician!!!
Using Irelands ratio we should be good enough with a parliament of 21. Yes Prime Minister, I have an idea ... why don't we halve parliament and those who remain take on half the pay of those that leave. This way we all gain something instead of us having to pay more and more!
We are well represented, does it feel that way to you?
mike magri
May 4th 2008, 14:04
I think that it would be a much, much greater disaster if this MINORITY GOVERNMENT, under the present situation of a MERE ONE SEAT MAJORITY, keeps on ignoring the strength of the MLP in Opposition.....
So far we have seen nothing but `TROJAN HORSES` coming down from the Prime Minister, and nothing that augers a compromise situation..
Under these delicate circumstances, `Might Is Right`, will NEVER WORK, because this kind of `might`, to say the least, is NOT SO MIGHTY...
Adrian Cardona
May 4th 2008, 11:38
Isn't it enough that MPs' pensions are not capped, unlike us mere mortals? I bet that that would be one motion in Parliament which would pass without the need for any pairing!