Tonio Fenech wants the Central Bank left alone.

Former finance minister Tonio Fenech yesterday issued a stern warning to the Government not to interfere and undermine the Central Bank by creating two new top positions in the institution to accommodate its “billboard” boys.

Speaking during the debate in Parliament on the Health Bill, Mr Fenech referred to the second reading of the Bill amending the Central Bank Act approved on Tuesday when the Opposition had walked out at the beginning of the sitting.

Mr Fenech said the Central Bank should retain its regulatory role and continue to enjoy independence from the Government. Although the Government could not order the Central Bank Governor and his deputy to resign, it had tried to do so. He said decisions in the financial services sector had always been taken through consensus and hoped that this practice would continue, warning the Government not to be partisan in appointments to be made at the Central Bank.

He said that the previous Government did not look at faces in appointing people in managerial positions at the Central Bank. The bank’s operations brought in €50 million for the Government every year.

Referring to the Health Bill, Mr Fenech said structures were important but it was more important to give a good health service to everyone. The Government had enough income to employ people in ministerial secretariats but did not have enough money to engage nurses, on the excuse that the previous government had spent the relevant budget vote. A decision had been taken to employ these nurses from next January.

He criticised the Government for closing emergency services given in the private sector but paid for through public funds. The situation in the health sector was deteriorating and some patients were given an appointment for more than a year’s time to undergo certain medical tests.

Mr Fenech called on the Government to stop blaming the previous administration for its woes and start taking decisions to sustain the health service.