So Joseph Muscat and his men really WERE lying

Th Malta Independent on Sunday, today

Records show parliamentary pay rises far from ‘stealthy’
by David Lindsay

Documents in the public record obtained by The Malta Independent on Sunday show that senior members of the Opposition, including the Labour Party’s parliamentary whip and the party’s leader himself, knew full well, and far earlier than is being claimed, of the controversial hikes in remuneration for Members of Parliament and Cabinet.

The documents also show beyond any shadow of a doubt that members of the Opposition knew for a fact, at the very least two years ago, that ministers had had a wage increase − through the addition of honoraria as MPs to their ministerial wages − despite widespread outrage being expressed in Opposition quarters on how the raises had been stealthily enacted, had been kept secret and how they had supposedly only been exposed by way of a Parliamentary Question tabled last month.

In fact, during Parliamentary Question time on 4 February 2009, Labour Whip Joe Mizzi, exasperated by the failure of Finance Minister Tonio Fenech to reply directly to a question tabled, had stated, “Ministers are going backwards instead of forward since they received an extra remuneration as Members of Parliament.”

Moreover, five days later, on 9 February, veteran Labour MP George Vella, during the now infamous procedural motion debate, said, “…even more so now that the Prime Minister has chosen to give an extra salary to ministers as Members of Parliament, because he said they are also serving a parliamentary function. So we expect them to be here to give their contribution, especially during the time allocated to Parliamentary Questions.”

Both comments confirm knowledge of a fact, rather than knowledge of a mere suggestion of pay increases for Cabinet members as is being repeatedly claimed.

Moreover, another public document, brandished by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on television discussion show Xarabank on 14 January, the night of the Labour Party’s national protest, shows how the Leader of the Opposition himself had known of the raises, at least as early as April 2010.

The document, also referred to by PN Whip David Agius in an opinion published in another media yesterday, is sourced from the Parliamentary Welfare Committee. The document states that its contents had been agreed on by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, as well as the two Parliamentary Whips (Joe Mizzi and David Agius).

Point five of the document deals with the transitionary allowance allotted to former Cabinet members, and requests that: “the increase [in honoraria] that was given to ministers and parliamentary secretaries be extended and reflected in an increase in the pensions of former ministers and parliamentary secretaries”.

Contacted yesterday, Mr Agius confirmed that the minutes had been read out, verbatim, during a meeting attended by PL MPs Joe Mizzi, Joe Debono Grech, as well as by Mr Agius, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, and former Speaker of the House Louis Galea, among others hailing from both sides of the political divide.

If there had been any objections to any of the two-page document’s contents, Mr Agius pointed out yesterday, the Labour MPs had every opportunity to make their objections known.

The documents cast serious doubt on statements being made by Opposition members, including PL Leader Joseph Muscat, who wrote on Friday in another media that he had only become aware of the raises by way of a Parliamentary Question raised recently by PL MP Leo Brincat in early December.

Additionally, when contacted yesterday, PN MP Philip Mifsud reiterated what he had brought to light in an opinion piece published in in-Nazzjon on 10 January, to the effect that Mr Mizzi had informed him that the Labour Party was onboard with the new and improved conditions being negotiated for MPs, including new postage allocations and even a laptop for every MP, and which also included the rise in the MPs’ honoraria.

The discussion, which Mr Mifsud said yesterday had taken place in Geneva last October while the two were abroad on parliamentary business, had also turned to the question of the honoraria increase. According to Mr Mifsud, Mr Mizzi had informed him that all was prepared for the MPs’ honoraria increases to be made, and all that was pending was an agreement with the government − along the lines that the Opposition would “lightly criticise” the government over the hikes for the sake of public appearance, and after that “everything would move forward” and MPs would have their pay rise.

Mr Agius also confirmed yesterday that precisely the same subject matter had been brought up during discussions between himself and his Opposition counterpart Mr Mizzi.

The entire matter, increments for Members of Parliament and Cabinet alike on the lines of the April 2008 Cabinet decision (see box for full details), has been referred to the House Business Committee for debate.

While a conclusion has been forecast for the end of the month, other sources speaking to this newspaper expressed their belief that the matter would take somewhat longer to be thrashed out.

Packages as established by Cabinet Decisions taken on 2nd September 2003 and 14th April 2008 (in 2008 figures):

President

• Salary – 140% of Scale 1 (€48,419)

• Duty allowance – 30% of salary

• Official car and drivers

• Use of car (or car allowance of €7,000 (Lm3,005)

• One landline and one mobile line uncapped

• Internet and email service/s at residence/s as required by duties

Prime Minister

• Salary – 125% of Scale 1 (€43,231.25)

• Duty allowance – 20% of salary

• Official car and drivers

• Use of car (or car allowance of €7,000 (Lm3,005)

• One landline and one mobile line uncapped

• Internet and email service/s at residence/s as required by duties

• MP’s package

Ministers

• Salary – 110% of Scale 1 (€38,043.50)

• Duty allowance – 20% of salary

• Official car and drivers

• Use of car (or car allowance of €7,000 (Lm3,005)

• One landline and one mobile line uncapped

• Internet and email service/s at residence/s as required by duties

• MP’s package

Parliamentary Secretary

• Salary – 105% of Scale 1 (€36,314.25)

• Duty allowance – 20% of salary

• Official car and drivers

• Use of car (or car allowance of €7,000 (Lm3,005)

• One landline and one mobile line uncapped

• Internet and email service/s at residence/s as required by duties

• MP’s package

Speaker

• Salary – 105% of Scale 1 (€36,314.25)

• Allowance – 20% of salary

• Official car and driver

• One fixed line and one mobile line uncapped

• Internet and email service at residence

MP’s package

Leader of the Opposition

• Salary – 105% of Scale 1 (€36,314.25)

• Allowance – 20% of salary

• Official car and driver

• One fixed line and one mobile line uncapped

• Internet and email service at residence

• MP’s package

Members of Parliament

• Honorarium – 70% of Scale 1 (€24,209.50)*

• Telephone allowance – 15% of Honorarium

• Internet and email service at residence

• Postage allowance – €1500*

• Government gazette subscription*

• Four Air Malta flights a year*

• Use of VIP lounge at MIA

• Free use of Gozo Channel*

• Exemption from CVA parking fees in Valletta*

** These are received also by the following Office holders: Prime Minister, Speaker, Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Speaker, Whip, Committee Chairman.

Packages as approved by Cabinet on 14th April 2008 (in 2008 figures) to be proposed to the Opposition for discussion:

Whips

• Allowance – 30% of MPs’ Honorarium

• Car allowance of €7,000 (Lm3,005)

• Additional telephone allowance – 10% of MPs’ Honorarium

• MP’s package

Deputy Speaker

• Allowance – 25% of MPs’ Honorarium

• Car allowance of €7,000 (Lm3,005)

• Additional telephone allowance – 10% of MPs’ Honorarium

• MP’s package

Committee Chairman

• Allowance – 15% of MPs’ Honorarium

(except European and Foreign Affairs Chair – 25%)

• Car allowance of €7,000 (Lm3,005)

• Additional telephone allowance – 10% of Honorarium

• MP’s package

Committees

• One research analyst per committee (other than European and Foreign Affairs Committee which shall have four research analysts

Parliamentary Groups

€200,326 for the development of relations with EU and Mediterranean split between the Parliamentary Groups

Five research analysts for Government Parliamentary Group(s)

Five research analysts of Opposition Parliamentary Group(s)

One senior clerk per Parliamentary Group