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[LIVE] MPs debate aftermath of Sheehan inquiry

The House of Representatives today debates a motion that supersedes an earlier no-confidence motion against Manuel Mallia

jurgen
10 December 2014, 5:33pm
by Jurgen Balzan
1 min read
Former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia
Former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia
Downloadable Files
No confidence motion against Manuel Mallia
21:35 That's all for tonight, the debate is over and parliament will reconvene next week for the last three sitting before the Christmas recess. Jurgen Balzan
21:34 On Carm Mifsud Bonnici’s involvement in the Kamara inquiry, Busuttil tells Muscat that if he expects the opposition MP to resign from parliament, the Prime Minister should do the same to Mallia. Jurgen Balzan
21:32 He adds that all the opposition wants is to “live in a normal country” and notes that while the PN is aware of its past errors and defects for which it paid a dear price, he is determined to rebuild the opposition on the value of truth. Jurgen Balzan
21:30 “This is no longer working and as one of your MPs has said this is the beginning of the end for the Labour movement. You have lost your credibility and the people are now asking is the Prime Minister able to take a difficult decision?” Jurgen Balzan
21:29 “You now expect us to applaud you for taking action three weeks late?” Busuttil asks Muscat as he insists that whenever the Prime Minister is cornered he resorts to pointing his finger at the opposition for doing worse. Jurgen Balzan
21:27 Pointing out that the inquiry report had concluded that the dismissed Mallia approved the “deceitful” statement, Buusttil said the government’s chief communications director who authored the statement was still in place. Jurgen Balzan
21:25 Accusing Muscat of taking action when he had no other option, Buusttil says “the perception out there is that you were not comfortable in taking action against Mallia.” Jurgen Balzan
21:24 Busuttil adds that Muscat “abdicated” from his responsibilities and instead of sacking Mallia he asked the former minister to resign. Saying the Prime Minister was weak with Mallia, the PN leader asks him “are you capable of taking difficult decisions?” Jurgen Balzan
21:23 Busuttil says that although Prime Minister Joseph Muscat spoke to his close aides Keith Schembri and Kurt Farrugia and the police commissioner “he was the only one not to know that the shots were fired in the car and not in the air.” Jurgen Balzan
21:18 “The inquiry report did not reveal anything new but it seems that what was obvious for us was not for the Prime Minister.” Jurgen Balzan
21:17 Busuttil reiterates that the inquiry was “useless” because it reached the conclusions which everyone was aware of from day one. Jurgen Balzan
21:16 He adds that the Prime Minister himself had in the past expressed his lack of trust in retired judges leading inquiries and says “this was your mess and you had to deal with it.” Jurgen Balzan
21:14 “When the people heard the recording the people realized that you hid the recordings for three whole weeks,” Busuttil tells Muscat who is now in the Chamber. Jurgen Balzan
21:13 Busuttil says Muscat and his government “have an instinct to conceal the truth” and insists that the recordings published by the PN media were not doctored. “As soon as we had the recordings we published the and their effect was devastating because the people realized who far government’s manipulation stretched.” Jurgen Balzan
21:10 He adds that were it not for the opposition and the media, Mallia would have got away with his involvement in the Sheehan shooting. Jurgen Balzan
21:09 He accuses Muscat of reaching compromises with undesirable people and lists a number of events such as the Cyrus Engerer, Luciano Busuttil and Helena Dalli cases which gave a message that “people can do as they please.” Jurgen Balzan
21:06 Describing government’s handling of the Sheehan shooting as “tragi-comic,” Buusttil says the shooting was the result of the culture of “anything goes as long as you’re part of Labour.” Jurgen Balzan
21:05 He says Muscat’s “threats” of attacking opposition MPs dis not scare him and describes the Prime Minister’s tactics as “blackmail.” Jurgen Balzan
21:05 The PN leader says that the opposition’s criticism was based on rationality and accuses the Prime Minister of attacking the opposition and Busuttil himself because “he is angered by our criticism.” Jurgen Balzan
21:02 PN leader Simon Busuttil says “reason doesn’t need force and neither does the truth.” Jurgen Balzan
21:01 . He adds that he has been in touch with his dismissed predecessor and his first priority will be that of restoring the trust in the police force. Jurgen Balzan
21:00 Abela promises to “stand alongside” the police chiefs and not use them for his own ends. Jurgen Balzan
20:58 He stresses the importance of depoliticising the sector and says “I might be new but I’m not naïve.” He adds that he intends to restore the police force’s dignity and demand new standards and training requirements. Jurgen Balzan
20:56 New home affairs salutes his predecessor Manuel Mallia and former police chief Ray Zammit for the sterling work they did and promises to build upon the good work done in the past and change what has gone wrong. Jurgen Balzan
20:54 Warning Muscat “the buck stops with you” de Marco says that the Prime Minister would now be judged for his actions. “Its time to stand up and deliver. Deliver what you have promised. Ensure that the security services and the public sector belong to us all and not to a political party.” Jurgen Balzan
20:52 He adds that the incident should take the incident as an opportunity to “wake up” and change the people’s perception on the political class. However the PN deputy leader adds that he fears that the government’s attitude will not change. Jurgen Balzan
20:51 “The people expected this government to unite not divide, the people expected this government to keep its promises.” Jurgen Balzan
20:50 Addressing the Prime Minister directly, who is not in the Chamber, de Marco says that government’s unprecedented electoral victory “has gone to your heads” stressing that the “people expected much better from this government.” Jurgen Balzan
20:49 He adds that government should admit its mistake and turn the shooting incident into an opportunity to reform the police force, including how police commissioners are appointed. He floats the idea of having the appointment of the police chief put on a par of that of Ombudsman which needs a two-thirds majority in parliament. Jurgen Balzan
20:47 “This government is at fault for interfering heavily in the police,” de Marco says, adding that he hoped that new home affairs minister Carmelo Abela would be allowed to work freely and grant the police force full autonomy. Jurgen Balzan
20:46 Insisting that the trust in the police has now vanished, de Marco says that one of the oldest police forces in the world is now under the spotlight because the “aggressor is treated better than the victim.” Jurgen Balzan
20:44 “It was a mistake to place the army, police and national broadcasting under one minister,” De Marco says, adding that the record number of transfers within the security forces and the change of procedures showed that these were no longer autonomous. Jurgen Balzan
20:42 He says the three-way conversation between the former police chief, Kurt Farrugia and Paul Sheehan should have never taken place and government should have simply issued a brief statement saying that an incident involving a minister’s driver had taken place and investigations were under way. Jurgen Balzan
20:40 “We are now seeing the return of the fear which leads to everyone telling ministers what they want to hear. Government cut its breaks and when they needed them they could not use them.” Jurgen Balzan
20:39 De Marco says that the mentality of defending at all costs the actions of government insiders and the “anything goes” culture was having a negative impact on the people’s trust in government and the political class. Jurgen Balzan
20:38 PN deputy leader Mario de Marco says government’s attitude of “doing as it likes by inundating the public sector with yes men had a negative affect which culminated in the shooting incident and what happened after the shooting.” Jurgen Balzan
20:34 “I don’t think the opposition has the moral authority to say how this government should have acted. Whatever Jason Azzopardi says the Prime Minister acted correctly and instead of playing Sherlock Holmes he based his decision on a fact finding exercise.” Jurgen Balzan
20:31 As Mifsud Bonnici returns to his seat, Zammit Lewis says “I cannot understand the commotion for mentioning the Kamara inquiry.” Jurgen Balzan
20:30 Zammit Lewis has provoked the ire of Mifsud Bonnici who has now walked out of the House after the tourism minister said that there is a parallel between the Sheehan and Kamara inquiries. Jurgen Balzan
20:26 Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis says that Busuttil’s accusations of against the three-man inquiry on the Sheehan shooting was uncalled for and the report itself “censored” the PN leader’s claims that the inquiry was covering up the Prime Minister’s involvement in the case. Jurgen Balzan
20:24 Mifsud Bonnici concludes his brief address by insisting that he was not responsible for the inquiry on the death of a Malian migrant in 2012 because by then he was no longer minister and adds that he had presented two inquiry reports on the death of Nicholas Azzopardi – who died from injuries suffered while in police custody - in Parliament. Jurgen Balzan
20:19 “I have never covered up anything, never, never, never.” Jurgen Balzan
20:19 Carm Mifsud Bonnici is now addressing the House and says that when he had ordered an inquiry into the death of a Nigerian migrant in 2011 he had bound himself to publish the final report when the magisterial inquiry would be published. Jurgen Balzan
20:17 Carm Mifsud Bonnici is now addressing the House and says that when he had ordered an inquiry into the death of a Nigerian migrant in 2011 he had bound himself to publish the final report when the magisterial inquiry would be published. Jurgen Balzan
20:15 Accusing the opposition of having a holier than thou attitude, Bartolo says the PN has lost credibility. Jurgen Balzan
20:07 Former home affairs minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici – accused by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of having blocked disciplinary action against detention services officers following their involvement in the death of a migrant - has arrived in the chamber and is having a chat with PN leader Simon Busuttil. Jurgen Balzan
19:54 Saying that Mallia was an “accident waiting to happen” Fenech Adami warns Muscat that the Prime Minister has at least five other Cabinet ministers who are an accident in the waiting. Jurgen Balzan
19:50 Calling on the Prime Minister to “come clean” and in reference to the Prime Minister’s admission that he went to sleep on the night of the shooting he says “who’s asleep does not catch the sharks you have allowed to surround yourselves.” Jurgen Balzan
19:47 Describing Kurt Farrugia as the Prime Minister’s “key chain” Fenech Adami says “who will ever believe that Muscat and Farrugia did not know the truth about the shooting incident before the statement was issued.” Jurgen Balzan
19:45 “You are now paying the price for selling your soul in order to win the election,” Fenech Adami says while pointing out that in 20 months, the police force had four different commissioners. Jurgen Balzan
19:41 As yelling Labour MPs attempt to drown out Fenech Adami’s speech, the PN deputy leader says that despite these failures government MPs sang Mallia’s praises. Jurgen Balzan
19:39 “Based on this admission, the former minister Mallia should have gone,” Fenech Adami says, adding that the people had lost trust in the police force. Jurgen Balzan
19:38 PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami says Muscat had today said that the police force was at home with the criminal underworld, describing as “an admission of failure in the fight against criminality.” Jurgen Balzan
19:33 In a veiled reproach to Mallia, the environment minister adds the shooting incident had underlined the importance of appointing responsible persons in positions of trust, including drivers. Jurgen Balzan
19:31 Brincat says the PN jumped the gun in trying to reawaken past fears of violence but the Labour government has learnt a lesson to guarantee accountability. Jurgen Balzan
19:29 Environment minister Leo Brincat takes the floor and poses a number of questions to PN leader Simon Busuttil, insisting that the Labour government had set an example of accountability while the opposition had acted as judge and jury. Jurgen Balzan
19:26 He asks Busuttil whether he will now shoulder political responsibility for the abuse of power under previous PN governments. Jurgen Balzan
19:25 Bonnici says the government will not publish the transcripts of the evidence given by the people interviewed in the inquiry because it could have a detrimental effect on future inquiries. Jurgen Balzan
19:22 “Not only did the leader of the opposition fail to thank the three retired judges who led the Sheehan inquiry but he has now accused them of performing somersaults to accommodate the Prime Minister.” Jurgen Balzan
19:20 The minister adds that consecutive administrations turned to retired judges to hold inquiries and investigations. Jurgen Balzan
19:20 He insists that attacks on retired members of the judiciary equate to an attck on the judiciary because they command the same respect enjoyed by serving judges and magistrates. Jurgen Balzan
19:15 Echoing the Sheehan inquiry report, Bonnici says Busuttil should not put undue pressure on the judiciary, adding that “destructive criticism” had a negative impact on the justice system and the people’s trust in the system. Jurgen Balzan
19:14 It’s now justice minister Owen Bonnici’s turn and he starts off by calling on the PN leader to “stop attacking and undermining the judiciary.” Jurgen Balzan
19:12 Azzopardi concludes his speech by insisting that the whole country was suffering from government’s incompetence. Jurgen Balzan
19:08 Listing the series of shortcomings and blunders in the police force and the AFM under Mallia’s watch, Azzopardi says “standards were lowered under this government.” Jurgen Balzan
19:07 Stressing that “reason doesn’t require force” Azzopardi says its logical that if Mallia and police commissioner Ray Zammit had to go because of the wrong information they provided, then so should the person who wrote the statement. Jurgen Balzan
19:06 Azzopardi says the Prime Minister and Farrugia “were the only ones not to know that the shots were fired at the car and not in the air. Who would believe this?” Jurgen Balzan
19:04 The MP says the Prime Minister asked his chief communications director Kurt Farrugia to verify facts before “going to bed,” asking “is this how a prime Minister should act?” Jurgen Balzan
19:01 Azzopardi questions why Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his chief of staff Keith Schembri were not interviewed by the three-man inquiry. Jurgen Balzan
18:59 He adds that Mallia’s chief of staff Silvio Scerri was absolved from any blame despite his involvement in drafting the statement. Jurgen Balzan
18:58 It’s now opposition MP Jason Azzopardi’s turn to address the House. The Sheehan shooting, he says “has ended Labour’s invincibility.” Jurgen Balzan
18:56 He warns Busuttil that his government has raised the bar of accountability and “today’s test was only the beginning” as from January he will be posing a number of tests to the PN leader “month after month.” Jurgen Balzan
18:53 “You now have a test,” Muscat tells Busuttil, adding “you have a chance to take action as I did.” Jurgen Balzan
18:52 “Mifsud Bonnici had ordered the head of detention services to refrain from taking action against the officers involved which led to the death of a Nigerian migrant…the leader of the opposition would call this a cover up I guess.”

The findings of an independent inquiry into the running of the Detention Services have not yet been made public, two years after the Office of the Prime Minister had ordered the inquiry in 2012. < Jurgen Balzan

18:51 In 2011, five detention officers who were directly involved in the death of Nigerian migrant Infeanyi Nwokoye escaped disciplinary action.

Nwokoye’s death in April 2011 remains unexplained mirrored the death of Malian Mamadou Kamara a year later who also died after having been recaptured by authorities following an escape from detention.

In July 2012, three detention services officers have been charged with the murder of 32-year-old Kamara, believed to have been beaten to death during his interception by the officers in Safi. He was captured by DS officers, who took him to Paola polyclinic in the early hours of Saturday 30 June, and found to be dead on arrival, having sustained various injuries to his groin and lower back, presumably as a result of being severely beaten.

Jurgen Balzan
18:50 “The inquiry was not published because it concluded that the detention services needed to be reformed and the detention period was too long,” Muscat says that the report should have been published but the inquiry on Kamara’s death made reference to the death of a Nigerian migrant in 2011. Jurgen Balzan
18:50 Muscat says that the former PN administration and former home affairs minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici had absconded their responsibilities by failing to publish a number of reports on the death of two migrants. Jurgen Balzan
18:46 “Should we have suspected of the acting police commissioner in passing on incorrect information?” Muscat asks, adding that these errors were done in good faith. Jurgen Balzan
18:46 He adds Busuttil should have taken up his offer to choose a judge to lead the inquiry himself which would have removed any suspicion on the inquiry itself. Jurgen Balzan
18:46 In the letter, Mallia says that he never approved of the statement which erroneously said that the shots were fired in the air. Muscat adds that Mallia pledged his loyalty to Labour and government. Jurgen Balzan
18:46 Muscat says he will table a letter by disgraced former minister Manuel Mallia who is indisposed for health reasons. Muscat says that in his letter Mallia explains his absence and insists on his innocence. Jurgen Balzan
18:42 Muscat says he will table a letter by disgraced former minister Manuel Mallia who is indisposed for health reasons. Muscat says that in his letter Mallia explains his absence and insists on his innocence. Jurgen Balzan
18:40 The Prime Minister lashes out at opposition leader Simon Busuttil for attacking independent institutions, adding that he chose to allow the independent inquiry to conduct its work in peace. Jurgen Balzan
18:38 Muscat accuses the leader of the opposition of instructing the PN’s media to be selective with the recordings and transcripts of police phone calls concerning the Sheehan shooting for his own partisan interests. Jurgen Balzan
18:36 He adds that the police force is riddled with a series of problems, including the tampering of evidence and the leak of information which he says is leading to a luck of trust in the police force. Jurgen Balzan
18:35 Muscat says the police force is being “dishonoured” by some of its members. “If a police officer shoots at somebody because his car has been hit by another vehicle, there’s something wrong with the corps’ culture and training.” Jurgen Balzan
18:34 He says that he was addressing the House with “humility” and with a dose of self-criticism. “The situation in the police force is of grave concern,” Muscat says, adding that something is wrong with the corps. Jurgen Balzan
18:32 The Prime Minister has now started the three hour debate which will be the concluded by the opposition. Once again dismissed minister Manuel Mallia is not present in Parliament. Jurgen Balzan
18:29 Good evening and welcome to tonight's Parliamentary debate which is expected to kick off in a few minutes time. Jurgen Balzan

MPs tonight debate the aftermath of the Sheehan inquiry after a no confidence motion against Manuel Mallia expired in the face of his dismissal by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Mallia was asked by Muscat to resign after an inquiry led by retired judge Albert Magri concluded after two weeks that acting Commissioner of Police Ray Zammit had been negligent in describing shots fired by Mallia's former security driver Paul Sheehan, as "warning shots".

Mallia constantly denied that he saw the government statement before it was issued, but government communications chief Kurt Farrugia says he heard Mallia in the police control room while Farrugia was on the line with Zammit, saying "issue the statement, issue the statement, issue it."

The board of inquiry says that it believes Mallia was shown the statement before it was issued. "He has to carry the responsibility that the official statement was issued from his minister and was incorrect over important facts."

The debate today will no doubt also raise the issue of political responsibility, which the board of inquiry said had been largely absent in the entire affair. "When appointments are not basied on merit... it is easier for these people not to have the necessary qualities to carry out their duties, and slip up... Ministers tend to claim they know nothing of what happened and when this involves a crime, report it to the police to investigate, so that they save their skin."

Jurgen Balzan was a MaltaToday reported from 2011 to 2017.
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