MPs travel allowance decision reversed
A decision for MPs to receive a €1,500 travel allowance instead of four free Air Malta flight tickets per year has been reversed.
The matter was raised by Opposition whip Joe Mizzi during a meeting of the House Business Committee today. He asked the government what the position was about the allowances given to MPs for air travel, mail and telephones.
Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, Leader of the House, said there was 'no change'.
Earlier this year it was announced that MPs would this year receive an annual €1,500 travel allowance to replace the free tickets scheme which Air Malta had decided to discontinue.
Air Malta had for a number of years granted four free air tickets to every sitting MP annually for family or relatives. MPs only had to pay taxes on these economy-class tickets and could fly to any of the destinations served by the national airline at the time.
However, in January, amid the furore over the increase in MPs' honoraria, the government decided to stop all changes regarding the package given to MPs until the issue was discussed by a parliamentary committee.
Informed sources contacted by timesofmalta said that so far this year MPs had received neither any free tickets from Air Malta, nor a travel allowance.
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Ms Maria Vella
Apr 27th 2011, 11:56
I can understand a serving MP being given 'free' tickets but on what basis do their families qualify? Can someone explain this?
N. Bonello
Apr 27th 2011, 01:54
Pit I'm too honest to be a politician.
Ms D Galea
Apr 26th 2011, 22:17
Cant MPs afford to pay for air tickets same as everyone else. Four freebie tickets a year per mp for several years is a hell of a large sum.
Mr Jon Shaw
Apr 26th 2011, 21:23
It would be interesting to see who came up with the workings to quantify the worth of 4 KM tics at €1,500.....
Mr Felix Galea
Apr 26th 2011, 19:04
This is incredible! Another ONLY IN MALTA....
First the Cabinet dishes out a hefty inflated MPs honoraria amounting to €514 per week to all Ministers behind everybody's back, including the other MPs for 3 whole years. Then it recently sanctions a new €1,500 annual allowance to make up for the discontinuation of 4 free Air Malta tickets to each and every sitting MPs families and relatives per year! This Cabinet will go on record for showing us, in no small way (excuse the pun!), where its first interest lies.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Apr 26th 2011, 16:53
May I humbly suggest to the government tos top all these perks to MPs and THEIR FAMILIES to travel free with Air Malta especially at this time when AirMalta workers have been making sacrifices for 6 years now while the MPs are not sacrificing anything. They (especially their families) should be made to pay for air tickets like normal persons do. Or are they more privileged than the common mortals. Privileges have to go. and sacrifices have to be made by eeach and every one MPs included.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Apr 26th 2011, 18:34
Just like they did with the hefty Honoraria pay raise?
Ms Maria Vassallo
Apr 26th 2011, 16:44
Air Malta had for a number of years granted four free air tickets to every sitting MP annually for family or relatives. MPs only had to pay taxes on these economy-class tickets and could fly to any of the destinations served by the national airline at the time.
By what right? No wonder Air Malta is in the red? Are MP's in need?
Mr Joseph Calleja
Apr 26th 2011, 16:25
One question arises. Why is the government allowing for four free tickets on Air Malta 9Which is almost broke) to the families of politicians? I can see the free ride for the politicians but where does the families and relatives come in? And by the way FREE TRAVEL for politicians should only be when on government business. What are the rest of the families of us Tax Payers, second class citizens? What if my father was a custodian working for the government in the court building or any other government job? Isn't he and his family entitled to free rides on Air Malta? After all he works for the same government. Hefty Honoraria pay raise for the politicians ( remember that one) and 4 free tickets for politicians and their families and relatives. No wonder Air Malta is going broke. And then some are so proud of Air Malta as our National Airline. Only when the rest of us Tax Payers start being treated equal.