The justice reform is linked to competitiveness as foreign investors would be discouraged from investing in a country where civil cases dragged on for years, Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli said this morning.

She was addressing members of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development before they were presented with the main recommendations listed in the justice reform consultation document, launched in December.

Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Owen Bonnici called on social partners present to give their feedback to the proposals. He said he hoped that today’s presentation was not the first and last time they discussed the issue.

Members of the media were only allowed to sit in for the presentation and were not present for the discussion that took place afterwards.

During the presentation MCESD members were given the highlights of the reform document that recommended changes spread over three years.

These included a range of proposals that tackled various aspects of the justice system including administration issues, the set-up of the courts, simplification of procedure, court delays and the legal aid system.