Speaker sends Vitals contract investigation decision back to PAC

Speaker of the House Anglue Farrugia ruled that it is up to the Public Accounts Committee members to decide whether to agree to the request put forward by the Medical Association of Malta and UHM Voice of the Workers.

The unions in question had put forward a request before the PAC for the Auditor General and the committee itself to investigate the hospitals privatisation contract with Vitals Global Healthcare. Members of PAC could not agree, with Justice Minister Owen Bonnici insisting that the issue be discussed before the health parliamentary committee. In addition to this, Shadow Minister for Health Claudette Buttigieg had withdrew her request for the Vitals contract to be discussed before the health committee.

Dr Farrugia urged for consensus in coming to an agreement on whether to investigate the contract. He said that "In light of a lack of direction, the House is tied to observe the practices of the House of Commons (UK), as a general rule, only those members nominated in the committee may take part in the deliberations of the committee. 

from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2gycMDx
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