A controversial decision to appoint Labour MP Marlene Farrugia as aide to her partner Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia creates “no conflict of interest”, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Defending the decision, the OPM said the Minister would shoulder political responsibility for all decisions and must also ensure the roles he assigns to his partner do not give rise to a conflict of interest.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wants every MP in Labour’s parliamentary group to serve in the areas in which they are most competent, a spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister told The Times.
“All MPs were elected to serve and all of them are very enthusiastic to do so as public servants,” he added, in response to a series of questions about the decision.
The Times asked why Dr Muscat was happy with having a couple in the Health Ministry but not in Cabinet, given that he had told the couple only one could be appointed a minister. The newspaper also asked whether Marlene Farrugia would be the Minister’s second in command, or whether the chief of staff would maintain that rank.
These questions were not addressed by the OPM’s e-mail replies. Neither was the question about whether Marlene Farrugia would have any expenses, such as mobile phone bills, paid for by the State.
However, Dr Muscat’s spokesman said Marlene Farrugia was one of “various aides helping the Health Minister” and pointed out that she was assigned the role after offering to help.
“Her offer to help in the Ministry was welcomed by the Prime Minister given that there is no conflict of interest and also on condition that she receives no financial remuneration,” the spokesman said, pointing out that the same conditions applied to other MPs, such as Anthony Agius Decelis who is assisting the Social Policy Minister at St Vincent De Paule.
However, the OPM spokesman pointed out that, while Marlene Farrugia’s offer to help in the Ministry had been welcomed, it would be up to the Minister to ensure the roles given to her would not give rise to any conflicts of interest.
“Her role is limited to assist in areas which the Minister deems fit. The Minister is there to take decisions and carry political responsibility for any decisions taken,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, responding to criticism in another newspaper, Marlene Farrugia said she would have liked to have clear guidelines to clear the air about her position.
The Times asked the OPM whether there were any guidelines or terms of reference given to Marlene Farrugia so that her work could be assessed and she could be held accountable, but these questions were not addressed.
Nor did Dr Muscat’s spokesman say whether she would be bound by any Code of Ethics, such as the Code of Ethics for parliamentary assistants, which among other things prevents MPs assigned to ministries from criticising their ministry.
Marlene Farrugia, unlike her family doctor partner, will be able to continue her dental practice.
The Code of Ethics for ministers, which precludes them from private work and which the Government is in the process of “updating”, stipulates that ministers are “duty-bound to avoid any conflict, real of potential” between their private interests and public duties.
The decision to have the couple working for the Health Ministry has been criticised by many commentators, who questioned whether the Government was being run like a family business or a charity, seeing as two MPs have been assigned voluntary roles.