Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening refused to be drawn into an argument with the Opposition about whether the Ministerial Code of Ethics allowed the prime minister to grant waivers.

The issue was raised in parliament by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi, who in a supplementary question asked whether the code provided for waivers to allow ministers to continue private practice.

Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, deputising for the prime minister, said the code was simply a guideline, and there had been a number of such waivers during previous Administrations. Several ministers had been allowed to give lectures at the university.

Dr Azzopardi asked if lecturing was considered the same as continuing to see patients and getting paid for their services. Dr Farrugia said he knew of no lecturer who was not paid for his or her services.

As Dr Muscat entered the House, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil asked if the Prime Minister had any problem with answering the question. Dr Muscat said he would have no problem giving a written reply once all the relevant information had been collected.

Dr Busuttil asked if the Prime Minister could at least say if the code held out the possibility of waivers. Again Dr Muscat said he would reply to a written question once that was put to him.

When Dr Busuttil asked how or why the Prime Minister did not know the answer once he had granted a waiver, Dr Muscat replied, “That is not what I said.”