Updated | PM 'expecting' answers on post-2008 Enemalta fuel procurement

If the police investigation into post-2008 Enemalta fuel procurement provides evidence of wrongdoings, then people must answer for their actions, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today.

Muscat insisted that people couldn't "play around with taxpayers' money as if nothing happened".

Speaking on One Radio, Muscat said that while many had believed irregularities at Enemalta were carried out before 2008, the Auditor General's report had shed new light which goes beyond 2008.

Muscat also insisted that PN leader Simon Busuttil couldn't wash his hands off the issue, "just because he wasn't there" and must therefore answer for the irregularities.

"If the PN leadership believes that Austin Gatt shouldn't answer for his questions just because he is no longer in politics today, then they are mistaken. They used to say I must answer for all that Labour did in the past. And I did. However, the Opposition is now applying a different yardstick," Muscat said.

He said, while in Opposition, he had to answer to things which had occurred "during World War II".

"The fact that Austin Gatt is now a private person is no reason for the PN not the be held accountable," he insisted. "Prior to the elections, individuals like Beppe Fenech Adami, Tonio Fenech and Simon Busuttil took Austin Gatt's side, so now they have to carry his political inheritance."

He noted that "during the elections, the PN leader and Austin Gatt worked side by side on their party's electoral campaign".

Discussing the oil scandal, Muscat held that he will leave the investigation to take its course and then decide what further actions will follow. In the past, oil was not purchased from the cheapest bidder, Muscat said.

Muscat continued that the Government's energy projections are on course and following the pre-set timeframes. "The opposition seems bent of creating hurdles to hinder the government's plans. However even those who during the electoral campaign portrayed our plans as  'Alice in Wonderland' stories, will benefit form cheaper utility bills.

Faced with too much red tape, people could resort to corruption in order to reach their goals. "After finding too many hurdles, one could easily be tempted to reach into his pockets and pay his way through", the Prime Minister explained. He argued how beurocracy also leads to a decrease in accountability.

The appointment of Michael Falzon as the Commissioner for Simplification and Reduction of Beurocracy has the aim of reaching out to people. This can be achieved by implementing better regulation principles and making better use of available information in order to efficiently serve the citizen and the business community.

The Government's battle against beurocracy brings with it a change in the mentality of the public sector. "Civil servants are rarely praised or motivated to propose changes or go the extra mile. However they are reprimanded when something goes wrong, leading them to support the status quo". Through the introduction of the Commissioner for Simplification and Reduction of Beurocracy, civil servants can now voice their ideas and put forward proposals to quicken certain procedures. Years of hands on experience make employees in the public sector the best advisors for the reduction of beurocracy.

Unemployment is a headache for the Prime Minister, however he noted a marginal decrease over the previous month. The fact that unemployment was almost constantly on the decrease over the past 5 months shows that the government is on the right track, but more can be done.

There remains however the issue of job mismatch and the education sector needs to address this. Whilst everyone is entitled to follow any course they wish, students need guidelines regarding employability.

The various expressions of interests issued since the March elections will undoubtly generate more employment. The latest expression of interest concerns the creation of a hatchery for the fishing industry. The project costs millions and the government is searching for private investors to share the burden.

The Prime Minister issued a severe warning against companies adopting precarious work. He pledged an ongoing fight against precarious working conditions, stating that companies employing such conditions will not be tolerated. Whilst very little can be done over existing contracts, the government will employ a Zero Tolerance policy over forthcoming tenders.

The Prime Minister concluded the interview by address the issue of illegal migration. Muscat explained how in the past weeks, the Maltese government managed to awaken the European powers from their endless slumber. Meetings with Italy, Greece and Libya will result in the finding of solutions to this phenomenon.

"While the PN led opposition portrayed me as a murderer, the same people were found in breach of Human Rights during the previous administration", the Prime Minister stated. He clarified that whilst he had stated that the government will not rule out any course of action, the European Court of Justice had found the PN led Government guilty of breaching the rights of migrants.

In the past weeks, the international media was invited to visit the Maltese detention centres. This proves that there is nothing to hide or shame the local authorities. In view of last week's decisions by the ECJ, Joseph Muscat said the government is considering appealing from the court's decisions.

Prime Minister Muscat concluded that financial help to run the detention centres is not enough. "The best villa will be turned to shambles if overcrowded", he said. Europe has shown its will to help but has failed to turn it into practical terms, whilst bilateral agreements are providing Malta with the much-needed solutions.

March elections will undoubtly generate more employment. The latest expression of interest concerns the creation of a hatchery for the fishing industry. The project costs millions and the government is searching for private investors to share the burden.

The Prime Minister issued a severe warning against companies adopting precarious work. He pledged an ongoing fight against precarious working conditions, stating that companies employing such conditions will not be tolerated. Whilst very little can be done over existing contracts, the government will employ a Zero Tolerance policy over forthcoming tenders.

The Prime Minister concluded the interview by address the issue of illegal migration. Muscat explained how in the past weeks, the Maltese government managed to awaken the European powers from their endless slumber. Meetings with Italy, Greece and Libya will result in the finding of solutions to this phenomenon.

"While the PN led opposition portrayed me as a murderer, the same people were found in breach of Human Rights during the previous administration", the Prime Minister stated. He clarified that whilst he had stated that the government will not rule out any course of action, the European Court of Justice had found the PN led Government guilty of breaching the rights of migrants.

In the past weeks, the international media was invited to visit the Maltese detention centres. This proves that there is nothing to hide or shame the local authorities. In view of last week's decisions by the ECJ, Joseph Muscat said the government is considering appealing from the court's decisions.

Prime Minister Muscat concluded that financial help to run the detention centres is not enough. "The best villa will be turned to shambles if overcrowded", he said. Europe has shown its will to help but has failed to turn it into practical terms, whilst bilateral agreements are providing Malta with the much-needed solutions.