Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Shiv Nair had helped communication with Qatar. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday denied he had ever met business consultant Shiv Nair or that Mr Nair had any contract with the OPM, pointing out that he had been given a residence permit by the previous administration.

Answering Opposition questions, Dr Muscat said Mr Nair, however, had been very helpful in establishing close contacts with Qatar.

George Pullicino (PN) had asked in what capacity Mr Nair accompanied Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi. He said Mr Nair had been blacklisted twice by the World Bank, even though he had used a different name.

Did the Prime Minister remember his pledge that he would not work with any blacklisted person?

Dr Muscat said he would investigate Mr Pullicino’s assertions and speak about them at a later stage.

In answer to Tonio Fenech (PN) as to whether Mr Nair was helping the Government, Dr Muscat said he had been instrumental in opening channels of communication with Qatar.

He had been instrumental in opening channels of communication with Qatar

Earlier, while the Prime Minister was not in the Chamber, Dr de Marco asked Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici if it was true that Mr Nair had accompanied the Prime Minister on an official visit to Qatar as his consultant. Why was he blacklisted?

Dr Bonnici said Dr Muscat had never been to Qatar, so the answer was no. Like Investment Minister Chris Cardona on Monday, he asked Dr de Marco for a written PQ.

Dr de Marco then said he had not mentioned Qatar. But had Mr Nair ever accompanied the Prime Minister overseas?

Mr Fenech asked if Dr Bonnici could confirm that Mr Nair had accompanied Mr Mizzi on a visit to Qatar. Qatari media had described Mr Nair as a consultant to the Prime Minister.

Later Dr de Marco asked the Prime Minister for his reaction to the description of Mr Nair as “a consultant to the Prime Minister”.

Dr Muscat said the media was not always right.