A Cabinet memo issued by the former government in 2008 had laid down that height limitations at Gharghur should be respected, and yet PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami was allowed to add a storey to his residence, Economic Affairs Minister Chris Cardona said.

Speaking in his second press conference in as many days, Dr Cardona said a similar request for additional floors was made by the owner of a neighbouring property but he was turned down.  

This, Dr Cardona said, indicated a case of nepotism.

"Was Simon Busuttil happy with this coincidence? Did anyone believe that Beppe Fenech Adami did not intervene in the permitting process?"

The minister was accompanied by Ian Castaldi Paris who asked whether it was a coincidence that a plot alongside Dr Fenech Adami's residence was put into the development zones during the rationalisation exercise of 2006. 

Dr Cardona (right) speaking this afternoon. Background picture shows Dr Fenech Adami's house before the extra floor.

Dr Castaldi Paris said that the Cabinet memo pointed out that the government wanted to apply the policy whereby no additional storeys would be allowed in rural areas. In spite of this Dr Fenech Adami was granted a permit to build additional storeys even if his house was in what was a rural area.

Asked about the deputy leaders issue Labour Party after Toni Abela failed to secure a post in the European Court of Auditors, Dr Cardona said Dr Abela is still in office and will remain so under the general conference formally approves the appointment of Konrad Mizzi.

PN'S REACTION

In a reaction to the press conference, the Nationalist Party said Dr Cardona should 'come clean' and explain why he was the only Labour MP defending Keith Schembri and Joseph Muscat.