Fenech says he discovered maid's situation only after she hurt her back

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech insisted this morning that his reference yesterday to the fact that his maid did not declare her income or pay national insurance contributions was aimed at highlighting how such people could end up without state financial support if they were injured and could no longer work.

Such people did not pay income tax because their income was too low, he said, and this was therefore not an issue of evading tax. The obligation to provide a fiscal receipt rested exclusively on the service provider.

He said he had discovered the case only after the incident had taken place, when he asked the maid what she would do.