Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

While the Home Affairs Minister expressed optimism that a solution to the army complaints dispute might not be far off, the Ombudsman’s Office is being cautious, saying only that talks had stalled for nearly a month.

Since last March, both sides have been at loggerheads over which entity has the right to investigate complaints over promotions, pay and pension rights of army members.

At one point, the Ombudsman had even warned he was prepared to take the dispute to court, arguing this was the only constitutional body vested with the power to decide on such a matter.

However, tensions were defused following a series of talks held last month between Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia and Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino.

Though early meetings had been described as “positive”, sources told Times of Malta that very little progress had been registered since.

Replying to Times of Malta questions, the Ombudsman’s Office said it was awaiting replies to letters sent to the ministry on August 28 and the Office of the Prime Minister on September 2.

An Ombudsman’s Office spokeswoman said in this correspondence Dr Said Pullicino had stated “his final position on the issue of jurisdiction”. She added that the Ombudsman had asked for the government’s reaction so that he could proceed with his investigations.

That option remains open and the Ombudsman will proceed accordingly if necessary

Asked whether the Ombudsman’s Office would consider forging ahead with the investigations in the absence of an agreement, the spokeswoman said the plea of lack of jurisdiction raised by the ministry precluded the Ombudsman from proceeding further.

She reiterated that unless an amicable solution was found, the issue could only be determined by the courts.

“That option remains open and the Ombudsman will proceed accordingly if necessary,” the spokeswoman said.

On his part, Dr Mallia yesterday was much more upbeat about the prospects of settling the dispute.

Speaking to this newspaper after a visit to the Corradino Correctional Facility, he said that following talks held with the Ombudsman, he understood that both sides were in agreement on the way forward.

Asked whether this signalled that an agreement was close he replied in the affirmative, adding “that even under the previous administration it was widely recognised that there needed to be amendments in the law”.

As a result, he said, amendments to the law would be presented to Cabinet, but he did not specify whether he was referring to the Ombudsman Act or the Malta Armed Forces Act.

Questions sent to the Prime Minister’s Office were not answered by the time of going to print.