PN slams ‘hypocrite’ Prime Minister over code of ethics

PN leader Simon Busuttil accused the Prime Minister and his Labour government of 'hypocrisy' and said the public was demanding an explanation from Muscat over reports of junior minister Franco Mercieca carrying out his private practice during the week, ostensibly in clear breach of a limited waiver by the Prime Minister to have Mercieca carry out his ophthalmological practice on Sundays.

Last Sunday, The Times reported that Mercieca was conducting routine operations at a private hospital, including laser surgery and cataract operations, and earning some €3,600 in a single morning.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Elderly Care denied breaching the waiver that was granted to him by Muscat upon being appointed as junior minister and threatened to take legal action. Mercieca's office also pointed out that the junior minister was in the process of phasing out his private practice and argued that Mercieca was one of two local specialists who carried out laser surgery and was currently training another person to carry out these operations.

Earlier this week, the PN issued a statement in which it hit out at the Labour Party for defending Mercieca, instead of acting over this blatant breach of ethics, while noting that the Joseph Muscat refused to take a stand.

However, Labour hit back by advising PN leader Simon Busuttil to take a close look at some members of his shadow cabinet before speaking about ethics, citing a number of controversies which characterised the previous administration.

In the latest episode of the ongoing saga, the PN today said: "The Sunday Times reveals that Parliamentary Secretary Franco Franco Mercieca threatens The Sunday Times with legal action, and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat keep mum. In the meantime, Franco Mercieca continues to pocket €3,600 in a single morning and breaching the code of ethics."

It added that "Labour snaps, hits back, and threatens legal action against anyone who dares to take government to task and attempts to hold Muscat, and his cabinet, accountable for their behaviour." 

"Labour's, and especially the Prime Minister's, reaction on the Sunday Times shocking revelations, speak louder than words," the PN said.

Joseph Muscat has defended his decision to grant Mercieca a waiver from the ministerial code of ethics, which should have meant that the junior minister relinquishes his private practice. Instead, Muscat has argued that Mercieca's reputable surgical skills should not be denied to patients who needed them.

In an undercover video filmed by the Sunday Times at the St James Hospital, it was revealed that Mercieca on Wednesday carried our three cataract operations and six cosmetic laser eye-correction operations between 7am and 1pm, for a total of €3,600 for his half day's work.

Mercieca had previously claimed was only following up patients he operated upon before becoming parliamentary secretary and who needed further medical assistance, such as further cataract interventions. "If I operate on a Sunday instead of visiting a band club to see my constituents, I am (still) a full-time parliamentary secretary," he had said.

But the video suggests that Mercieca is taking on new patients, and that prospective patients are encouraged to book early.

In a statement, Mercieca yesterday said that the work he was carrying out included phakic implants and cornea cross-linking operations which he said only he could perform. "With reference to cataracts, I am only operating previously-seen patients," Mercieca said.

Mercieca said that he will continue to see patients at Mater Dei Hospital, including Sunday morning operations, without remuneration.