Economy Minister refuses to publish legal consultants fees

Economy Minister Chris Cardona has refused to reveal how much individuals providing legal consultancy to the Ministry for the Economy and related departments and entities were being paid, citing "commercially sensitive information".

Nationalist MP Claudette Buttigieg raised a question in parliament on individuals who were providing legal consultancy services to the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Enterprises, and other departments and entities falling under the same ministry.

Buttigieg also requested a copy of the contracts and salaries being paid.

"I don't feel that contracts and payments should be tabled in parliament due to the information being commercially sensitive," the Minister said.

According to the information tabled in parliament, there were 16 individuals or entities providing legal consultancy services.

The ministry only published fees being paid to two of these 16 entities: Nadine Sant, who was being paid €60,512 and Helen Borg Muscat who was being paid €16,926.50.

Others providing legal consultancy services to the various departments and entities are Ganado & Associates, GVTH Advocates, John Bonello, Aaron Mifsud Bonnici, Kris Borg, Arthur Cox, Fenech Farrugia Fiott, Mamo TCV, Fenech and Fenech, Deguara Farrugia Advocates, Legal Works Consortium, Aequitas Legal and Lydia Abela.