Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna has requested the Auditor General to carry out an investigation into the processes of the Mater Dei Hospital project in the light of the findings of the report of the Mater Dei Inquiry Board, headed by Justice Emeritus Philip Sciberras, into the structural defects present at the hospital building.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY FOR FINANCE

In his letter requesting the investigation, Minister Scicluna wrote that the said findings raise significant doubts on the levels of good governance, transparency and sound financial management followed during the process leading to the design, building, execution, certification, payment, completion and eventual closure of the entire Mater Dei Hospital project, primarily between 1989 and 2011. Doubts are also raised on whether the applicable national and EU procurement and financial directives and regulations were adhered to and whether the cost of the project presents value for money when compared to good-practice (hospital) projects in Europe.

“It is the Government’s view that for the sake of clarity, transparency, fiscal and regulatory accountability, a thorough investigation of the above mentioned processes of the MDH project should be held,” said the Minister.

Saturday 13th June 2015