Government should investigate the visas issued by the Maltese mission in Algeria as 6,781 visas were approved since March 2014 even though very few Algerian tourists were registered.
Speaking during the debate on the Budget of the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security, Beppe Fenech Adami (PN) spoke about allegations of a corrupt racket using Maltese consulate in Algiers to obtain visas to enter the Schengen Area.
Minister Carmelo Abela explained that the Budget was investing in the country’s security by improving human resources and with the continuous upgrading of equipment in order to meet the new challenges and increased expectations of citizens.
The key challenges are to increase the staff complement in the disciplined forces, over and above the 500 engaged since the last election, and to improve employment conditions, including the provision of an insurance cover for the police, lower tax for police extra duty and an improvement in the AFM allowance.
Dr Fenech Adami asked Minister Abela not to lodge an appeal to the court’s decision saying the Ombudsman could investigate alleged injustices in the AFM. Minister Abela stated that the court’s decision was being studied.
Deborah Schembri (PL) spoke about the findings and recommendations of the exercise carried out by the Social Affairs’ Committee looking into the police force’s experience of domestic violence victims.
Francis Zammit Dimech (PN) called for further collaboration between government and Opposition on immigration, where the positions have significantly converged.
The Opposition confirmed its willingness to assist the government to strengthen Malta’s case and to develop a national migration policy.
“This is a suitable moment as we are not being faced by an immediate crisis. More transparency, including about any formal and informal deals with other countries, would be very helpful,” he said.
There is no formal or informal migration agreement with any country, according to Minister Abela.
Rather, there is collaboration with neighbours according to the operation of rescue missions in line with the provisions of international law. Both sides agreed that the evaluation criteria for the upcoming Valletta Summit should be the concrete action taken afterwards – not the attendance or the speeches delivered.