An inquiry board has been set up to establish the facts and timeline of the building of Mater Dei Hospital and analyse criminal and civil liabilities.

The Sunday Times of Malta last Sunday revealed that concrete structures over the hospital’s accident and emergency department were so weak in certain areas they could not withstand the weight of two planned medical wards.

It said that even though the wards would have to be relocated, immediate intervention works had to be carried out to reinforce the structure over A&E to ensure its safety.

The government said yesterday these intervention works had started.

The board, which is chaired by Judge Emeritus Philip Sciberras, will be able to appoint technical experts as necessary. Its other members are Joseph Scalpello and Karl Cini.

In a statement, the government said it will see that political, technical and commercial responsibilities are shouldered.

Speaking on One Radio earlier today, Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne said the government had identified the site where the two wards would be constructed instead of above the A&E.

Site plans which would then be submitted to Mepa for approval were being drafted, he said.

Referring to a report in Times of Malta, were former Finance Minister Tonio Fenech was quoted as saying he was “not completely surprised” at the news, Mr Fearne said he had “two major questions” to pose to Dr Fenech.

“I am sure the board of inquiry will also wish to make these questions. If he knew that one couldn’t build above the emergency department and that the helipad could not be built on the roof, why didn’t he speak up when work was about to start? Why didn’t he inform me whenever we met in Parliament?

“Even worse, how did he know about all this and he nevertheless allowed his colleague, former Health Minister Joe Cassar, to roll out the project?”

People must carry responsibility, he continued, not only due to the money spent but also because of the possible danger to the public.

The government, he added, has taken temporary measures to solidify the structure.

In a statement, the Labour Party asked why the Nationalist Party, which asked for the matter to be debated in the Health Parliamentary Committee, wanted this debate before all facts were known.

It noted that while former Mr Fenech, who was responsible for the project in 2005, said he was not surprised, Dr Cassar said he was because as minister he had applied for funds for the building of two additional storeys. This was when Mr Fenech was Finance Minister.