Mugliett seconds PM's amendment to Opposition motion on honoraria
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi today proposed in Parliament that the Committee to Strengthen Democracy should be reactivated and it should urgently consider the setting up of a mechanism to decide and monitor the pay of ministers and MPs, on the model of the House of Commons.
His proposal was contained in an amendment to replace an Opposition motion which had condemned the government for having given ministers a raise by granting them the honoraria of MPs along with their ministerial salary.
Nationalist MP Jesmond Mugliett, who had himself raised questions about the issue, seconded Dr Gonzi's motion.
(See Mr Mugliett's statement at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110611/local/jpo-i-had-intended-to-vote-with-the-opposition.370071 )
Replying to questions by the leader of the Opposition, Dr Gonzi said his proposal did not mean the suspension of the raise given to ministers or a refund of that raise.
Dr Muscat said that while the government and the opposition were having talks to 'repair what was broken' the Opposition would press on with its motion condemning the raise given to the ministers.
The Opposition had walked out of the Committee in the wake of controversy over a vote in the House on the power station extension.
Earlier in today's speech, Dr Gonzi said that if the Opposition wanted to push the clock back on ministers' pay, then, by the same yardstick, the clock would have to be pushed back regarding the pay for all MPs who had other jobs.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Gonzi said that it was disgraceful for the Opposition to be trying to impression that the government decision to raise ministers' income was taken recently, or that it did not know that the decision was taken in May 2008.
Dr Gonzi said the government had decided, at the time, that ministers should start receiving their parliamentary honorarium, along with their ministerial pay. That was in line with a previous decision that civil servants who were elected to parliament would retain their job and pay, while also receiving their parliamentary honorarium.
If the Opposition now wanted to reverse the decision on ministers' pay, then one would reverse everything, Dr Gonzi said.
No one from the Opposition had protested, for example, when a member within its ranks, upon election, was able to keep his Mepa job, and enjoy increases to that salary, while also receiving the honorarium. This MP, despite being employed by Mepa, criticised the Authority in the House.
There was also a case where an MP who was a government MP, received his government salary and parliamentary honorarium , but did not turn up for work.
These people had received far more than €600 a week thanks to the government decision. Could anyone from the Opposition deny this?
If this decision was good for such MPs who had received such increases as a result, why was it wrong for the ministers? What yardstick did the Opposition use.
What applied for the Opposition MPs, surely, also applied to ministers.
The raise for ministers was part of a package which also provided that the Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker should be given a choice. If they wished to serve full time (without private practice or other jobs) they would be treated like the ministers and be given a salary for the post, and the honoraria of MPs. What was wrong with this?
This method was adopted for Speaker Louis Galea, who opted to serve full time and started receiving a Speaker's salary and an honorarium. The present Speaker opted not to serve full time.
Dr Gonzi said that despite the raise given to the ministers, they still lost substantial income when they gave up their profession to become ministers and service the country. That they were now being given their honorarium along with their salary was only partial compensation.
This was something which was done in most parliaments abroad. What was wrong with this?
Dr Gonzi insisted that the government decision was not hidden. It was documented, and the government was even criticised in the media for it.
The Prime Minister regretted that in the wake of this controversy, the government and the opposition had not been able to reach agreement, within the Parliamentary Committee on Democracy. But the opposition MPs had walked out of this committee. They were now realising they had taken a bad decision.
In January he had declared that the revision of MP's honoraria would be referred to a House committee. Since then, unfortunately, no progress had been made. He had not given up, however.
He had noted recent comments by the Leader of the Opposition indicating that the Opposition wanted the Committee on Democracy to be revived.
He was therefore proposing that, without going into the merits of what had taken place, the Speaker would be asked to convene a meeting of the select committee, picking up the previous agenda and the issue over MPs' honoraria. Should the committee decide to set up a sub-commission, he would have no objection.
The committee could decide to adopt the model of the House of Commons on pay for ministers and MPs and how salaries were reviewed, Dr Gonzi said.
Alternatively, he said he would be prepared to consider other suggestions.
Asked by Joseph Muscat whether he was proposing that ministers would refund their increase in the meantime, Dr Gonzi said he was not proposing that. What he was proposing was that the committee could consider whether to adopt the House of Commons mechanism and oversight system.
MUSCAT REACTION
Dr Muscat said talks were being held 'in a way to repair what had been broken'. Those talks should continue to take their course and whoever suffered should be compensated.
As for Dr Gonzi's suggestion, which did not mean the suspension of the ministers' salary increase, the Opposition would press on with its motion.
GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT
At the end of his speech Dr Gonzi moved an amendment deleting the Opposition Motion and referring the issue of ministers' and MPs pay to the House Committee on Democracy to consider whether the House of Commons model could be adopted for this issue.
The amendment was seconded by Jesmond Mugliett.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
37 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
James Camilleri
Jun 13th 2011, 22:51
Mr Charles Vella
I do not expect our P.M. to have a salary of 12, 000 a year (and from where you got this amount baffles me?). And I do expect him to have a salary which is in line with his responsibilities. So it wouldn’t have raised any eyebrows had parliament passed on a “humble” but decent increase in his earnings. But to award himself in such an avid manner is downright indecent. It is indecent because the raise the cabinet got is more than the average worker gets as a weekly salary. And I do not mean the workers on minimum wage – they earn much, much less. And please do not repeat the argument that our MPs are the least paid in the EU. So are all the rest of the Maltese workers. So by your same argument all of us should expect such hefty increases in our salaries to bring us in line with the EU workers. But I guess that this is just a question of some pigs are better (or rather more gluttonous) than others. If this had happened abroad the workers unions would have been up in arms. However in Malta all workers unions have remained mum on this issue.
Mr Stephen Borg
Jun 12th 2011, 22:50
MPs like Jesmond Mugliet should not try to impress us with their statments in favor of the us the common people then vote against us as if nothing happened and was said. For once be consistent please the common people are not idiots as you think.
Mr Clifton Gatt
Jun 12th 2011, 04:42
Robbing Peter(il poplu) to pay Paul(membri tal parlament).Nice work!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 11th 2011, 20:17
Did you know that Gonzi's old poor working conditions only allowed him a Salary of 57,707 Euros plus perks while a regular MP gets 19,092 plus perks.He complained that the MPs were better off than him as they were also getting an income from their full time employment. He has now solved that problem by giving himself an increase of 26,728 Euros which is higher than the MP's honorarium. Gonzi now takes home 84,438 Euros pa. which is 4.5 times that of the other MPs. And yet they still voted against the opposition's motion. You work that out.
Mr charles vella
Jun 11th 2011, 21:26
what do you expect?! A Prime Minister with a salary of 12,000 a year?! Our mp's are the least paid in EU! Give the best wage to all MP's as they represent the country, hopefully for the good of all!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 12th 2011, 00:40
Charles,I expect that the PM’s salary is related to the size of his people’s income not his fellow EU’s MP. The Maltese are amongst the lowest paid wage earners in the EU so it follows that his emoluments should be less. What I don’t expect is you getting E.1.16 and him E. 500 per week. Good luck to you if you’re happy with that, vote Gonzipn next time too.
Mr leo attard
Jun 11th 2011, 15:08
maybe I'm wrong, but i guess this means that what's done is done! and all this monitoring of pay rises for ministers will be for future occasions ---- and since it's likely that the PL will soon be in the driver's seat, these amendments are targetting them!
Joe Grech
Jun 11th 2011, 14:44
Past Maltese politicians - now dead - must be turning in their graves - witnessing the shabby arguments that are being presented in parliament to try to ''excuse'' the free and easy liberties Cabinet exercised over public money.....
Anthony Busuttil
Jun 11th 2011, 14:19
Wenzu u Rozi kien lussu hdejn il fares tal parlament.
Il prim jirranga ma kullhadd........................
Mr Joe Brincat-LL.D
Jun 11th 2011, 14:05
Had we been like other European countries, such as France, Italy and even the UK, the matter would not be considering by a committee, but other organs of the State.
These independent organs of the State would have asked the following questions, which I posted under another heading :
"Can you kindly explain to me not the "logic" but the legality of it all.
What does the Constitution say about spending of public moneys ?
What does the Financial Administration and Audit Act say ? What do the Financial Regulations say ?
And what does the Criminal Code say about a public officer (and a Minister is) who exacts or demands money as salary more than is legally due ?
And what does the Criminal Code say about "private interest in the public administration" ?
I know the answers. The whole situation baffles logic. "
In the UK even the emoluments of the Queen are voted in Parliament, under what is known as the Civil List. In recent years the amount paid has diminished and not increased. And let's be honest - besides being a lovable symbol, the queen earns income for the country from tourism etc.
Sometimes I doubt what sort of Republic we are living in.
Francis Attard
Jun 11th 2011, 17:45
Are you insinuating that there is room for legal action in this whole issue?
Stanley Mifsud
Jun 11th 2011, 13:54
the PM asked to be judged on the basis of his actions. What shall our judgment be when faced by procrastination and greed? Guilty on all counts! Why did the PM fail to take on the opposition's suggestion to refer this to a house committee? Why wait for the debate to effect such a change in policy and propose the same thing months later? Looks like someone is being held to ransom by his minions.
E. Vassallo
Jun 11th 2011, 17:32
Vera x'fettilu Mugliett ghamel hekk??Daqs kemm kelli ghajneja mimlijin jahasra li forsi jivvutaw kontra l-Gvern, Joseph taghna minn kollox qed jaghmel forsi narawh hemm fuq!!!!
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jun 11th 2011, 13:53
Mugliett, qed tilaq fil-vojt issa. Ghad trid tiffaccja il-poplu jekk jibqalek wicc.
Charles Micallef
Jun 11th 2011, 13:44
To achieve credabilty they have to return what they have taken illegally back to the public as otherwise the issue will not be laid to rest!
Mr Ray Azzopardi
Jun 11th 2011, 13:18
issa iktar min qatt qabel ............... GONZI , WARAB U HALLI LIL MIN HU VERAMENT VICIN IL-POPLU JAHDEM . NINSAB CERT LI DAN GHAMILTU GHAX THISS LI INT GHANDEK IL PIZZIJIET UKOLL BHAL POPLU MALTI .IC-CAJTA HI LI IL POPLU MA JISTAX JAGHTTI ZIEDA LILU INNIFSU ......GHAX INT MA TRIDX !!!!!!!!!
WARRAB ILLUM QABEL GHADA
Joseph Vassallo
Jun 11th 2011, 13:11
The PM stated that "This method was adopted for Speaker Louis Galea, who opted to serve full time and started receiving a Speaker's salary and an honorarium. The present Speaker opted not to serve full time."
I am curious as to why the former speaker Dr Louis Galea received a Speaker's salary AND an MP's honorarium when he was not elected at the polls.
Or am I forgetting something?
Carmen Portelli
Jun 11th 2011, 13:06
The people are with the Labour Party on this issue.
albert pace
Jun 11th 2011, 13:04
Gonzi ( no longer GONZIPN) is loosing all the arguments. He messed up the divorce referendum and now is now trying to justify the income he took from public funds without any authority and in a secret manner. What he did is illegal and will always be remembered as such. Is Mugliett trying to make amends for the Regional Road Bridge Fiasco? Mario demarco should replace Gonzi immediately to reduce the damage he is causing to the PN.
Mr d. attard
Jun 11th 2011, 13:02
The proposal had been made ages ago when cabinet decided to take care of itself and ignore the rest. Government has promised many things and said many things. The big factor now is that when Government suggests a sensible thing like this, there is still very little confidence that it has the moral conviction to carry it out but use its powers to fudge things. Just look at the way Dr Fenech Adami is talking about divorce even in the face of a referendum result. The Nationalist Party seems to think that power is their exclusive domain. Hopefully Maltese culture will prove that it has matured and will demand that which is decent and sensible.
Stephen Koludrovic
Jun 11th 2011, 12:59
Plan A, a disaster.
Plan B, very wobbly
Plan C, ???
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 11th 2011, 12:56
No Prime Minister you did not convince me,however,if you take out your bag of tricks and convince 25% of the electorate I'll swear to vote PN next time.
Steven Axisa
Jun 11th 2011, 12:53
Gonzi maqtuh mil-poplu ...
Luke Zammit
Jun 11th 2011, 12:47
Its is not about the rise... It is about it's TIMING!
Nicky Azzopardi
Jun 11th 2011, 12:47
Alfred Sant and Joe Mizzi did not deal with what the PM said - and Gonzi did well to point out the embarrassing fact that Labour MPs hid what they earned over and above what Ministers will earn now, because it was in their favour.
All kept silent and wished the ground would swallow them up after all the screaming and attempts to obtain sympathy by them over the past few months.
Shame on the disjointed, opprtunistic ignorance that is the Labour Party.
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jun 11th 2011, 13:56
@Azzopardi.
Int gawdi il 1Euro 16 cents li tak Ali Baba
Nicky Azzopardi
Jun 11th 2011, 14:16
Din injoranza enormi. Jekk jien xoghli hu nsajjar il burgers u naghmel it-te ghan nies ghandi dritt nistaqsi ghal paga ta' pilot mal-Airmalta? Ma nahsibx u l-istess hawn.
Ieqaf taptap bil 1.16 u mhux - il-punt hu li MPs kollha kienu jafu b'din iz-zieda u hemm MPs laburisti li kaxkru izjed min MPs fil gvern, u HADD ma tkellem. Issa jridu jigbdu is simpatija minand nies bhalek.
Kemm nixtieq hawn persuna li ma tirrepetix qisa papagall li tikkumenta hawn. Uzah daqsxejn mohhok.
Mr Vincent Cassar
Jun 12th 2011, 08:23
Sur Azzopardi ieqaf lablab fil-vojt! L-issues huma tnejn u m'hemm f'hiex tintilef: L-ewwel, li dan il-PM tieghek ha zieda hu u shabu minghajr ma qalu lil hadd! It-tejatrini tieghu fil-parlament ma ikkonvincu lil hadd. Hu jaf li ghamel hazin TANT illi irid jerga iwaqqaf is-selection committe li jhares lejn il-hlasijiet tal-MPs...wara illi kien sabbat saqajh meta giet proposta l-ewwel darba....imma issa is-sens ta' htija ghamlet taghha imma mhux bizzejjed biex irodd dak li seraq lura! It-tieni, kun af illi din l-issue mhix rigward i-zieda biss imma it-theddida lejn l-oghla istituzzjoni tal-pajjiz. Immagina int tmur taghti zieda sempliciment ghax inti il-MD ta' kumpanija minghajr ma tghaddi mill-bord. Dawn hekk ghamlu. They helped themselves to the pie! Intant...iva...gawdi il-Euro 1.16 li tak GonziPN.
Ms Marija Falzon
Jun 11th 2011, 12:30
Is this some sort of retreat Dr. Gonzi? Not able to take a solid stand on anything? I'm sure that you are realising what a big mistake this was on your part. I just find it funny that yet you propose to continue to pocket the arrogant pay rise until the select committee endlessly decides otherwise. just a laughing stock.
Mr James Borg
Jun 11th 2011, 12:30
So this means that the PM is accepting the opposition Leader's proposal for the setting up of a select committee, which was shot down when Hon.Joseph Muscat mentioned it in parliament.
Nathalie Frendo
Jun 11th 2011, 12:18
Why was this increase kept a secret from the rest of us? Maybe it is deserved, but hiding it is not justified. It came in public at times of recession, and now it looks much worse.
Mr Jo Camm
Jun 11th 2011, 12:53
If it was kept secret from YOU, the opposition knew about it and never objected.
Ms Rose Cilia
Jun 11th 2011, 14:57
Mr.Jo Camm, did JPF know about it too?
Anthony Angelo Mifsud
Jun 11th 2011, 12:08
The Honr Gentleman, must have forgot that he has signed the oth when apponited? So is the Honr PM stating that he is calling sour grapes now?
U hallini, mella should you be making €4.20 per hour, to the ? € what ever the PM is making, what should we do? apply for a Ministers job?
Drop this case, and let's move forward.
return the funds and donate to the poor.
Toni
Mr ray borg
Jun 11th 2011, 12:07
Two wrongs doe'nt make one right. Kieku immexxu l-arlogg lura kieku inti tibqa l-art, pero larlogg ghadu ghaddej u l-elezzjoni dalwaqt tkun ma wiccek imbad ejja okrob ghal vot.
Din iz-zieda hija id-daqqa tal mewt tieghek u tal PN
Charles Micallef
Jun 11th 2011, 12:04
Quote "Gonzi asks if Opposition wants to push the clock back" unquote
The same old stories, the same old excuses and the taxpayers always end
up footing the bill!
Shame on all of them!
Alan Abela
Jun 11th 2011, 12:01
Well said!