Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has promised he would publish the report on irregularities in the VAT Department, even if he did not receive the department’s reactions to its conclusions.

He made the commitment after Labour MP Leo Brincat insisted that the case had happened years ago and that the minister had repeatedly promised the House to publish the report.

After Mr Brincat’s original parliamentary question had been answered with “a reply will be given at a subsequent sitting”, Mr Brincat asked Mr Speaker to investigate what was happening because Mr Fenech had repeatedly said the report was being concluded, then it was being scrutinised. Mr Brincat said the fact that the report was being scrutinised meant that it had been concluded.

The first question had been asked by Opposition Whip Joe Mizzi on February 8, 2010 and Mr Fenech had always promised the report “in the next few weeks”.

Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat asked how could the minister justify not publishing the report when more than €2 million of public funds had been siphoned off but nobody had yet assumed political responsibility. The case lacked transparency and good governance.

Mr Fenech said the consultants’ report had been concluded but he had felt the need to request the department’s reactions. These had not yet been forthcoming and he had told his Permanent Secretary that he would table the report on Monday, whether or not the reactions were forthcoming.