Equal opportunities Minister Helena Dalli this morning turned down a request by Times of Malta to reply to questions on illegal development at one of her properties in Zejtun.

While the media was asked to attend a presentation on climate change at the MCESD in the presence of the minister, she refused to take any question on the controversy surrounding illegalities at a property belonging to her development company.

Although Times of Malta asked the minister to reply to questions on her involvement in this case, a spokesman for the minister said that Dr Dalli had no time to reply to questions but said that “there will be other opportunities in the future”.

So far Dr Dalli has kept mum on stories revealed by Times of Malta that despite a MEPA enforcement notice, work on her property continued unabated.

Times of Malta also revealed that the Equal Opportunities Minster failed to declare this property in her annual declaration of assets submitted at parliament and that work was carried by heavy machinery on site belonging to PADA Builders Ltd, a company co-owned by Minister Dalli and her husband Patrick.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat last week defended Dr Dalli’s actions and said that works were not being carried by the minister but by the people who had signed a promise of sale agreement on the property.

He also said that Dr Dalli declared the property as she declared her interest in PADA Ltd.

However, nowhere in her declaration is the property listed.

Minister Dalli’s husband, Patrick, had told Times of Malta that he didn’t know that works were continuing, even though he lives some metres away in the same road.