Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia this morning avoided taking questions from journalists on the controversial Mater Dei report penned by government consultant John Dalli.

Following a press conference on the launch of a training programme for healthcare professionals on IVF, Dr Farrugia left the conference room from a secondary exit.

Asked by journalists whether the minister would be taking questions, his spokesman said journalists were requested to send all their questions in writing and the ministry would reply.

“It’s not that he doesn’t want to give replies but he has no time at the moment,” a member of the minister’s staff said.

Yesterday, Dr Farrugia was in the eye of an unfolding storm with healthcare unions following a declaration by the nurses union, MUMN, that the Dalli report was “a shoot-out” against healthcare professionals.

In his reaction, the minister distanced himself from the conclusions of Mr Dalli, a former health minister, and said that the report was not commissioned by the government but it was Mr Dalli himself who wanted to draw up the report and “the government accommodated him”.

Last June, Mr Dalli was appointed by the Prime Minister to head a reform body within the Mater Dei administration and to compile thereport.

Mr Dalli’s consultancy is not against payment and the Prime Minister said that he was giving his service on a voluntary basis.