Government MPs block PAC request for information on Film Commission payments
The committee had previously agreed to ask for a full account of €7.2 million worth of payments
Government MPs sitting on the public accounts committee blocked a request for Film Commissioner Johann Grech to give the committee a full account of €7.2 million in payments on Wednesday.
The matter relates to the PAC’s request in early February for a breakdown of payments made by the Film Commission (MFC), together with their corresponding invoices.
PAC members had noted that although MFC had listed an estimated spend of €1.8 million in its 2024 budget estimates, its actual expenditure had ballooned to over €8.9 million, almost €7.2 million more than planned.
MFC had later provided a redacted breakdown of the payments, without listing who the payments were made to or when they were issued, nor did it provide the invoices requested.
The matter made its way to Speaker Anglu Farrugia, who last week ruled that PAC members should decide whether to recall Film Commissioner Johann Grech to provide the missing information.
The Speaker noted that this information had already been provided to Grant Thornton, the firm that carried out an audit into MFC’s work, with the information being “to the firm’s satisfaction”.
During Wednesday’s PAC sitting, the four government MPs on the committee argued that the information provided was sufficient.
“We feel that the subject has been exhausted. There was full collaboration from everyone and we don’t see the need to revisit the subject,” Labour MP Alex Muscat said.
PAC chair and PN MP Darren Carabott had a different view, questioning why the government side was backing away from what was previously agreed upon.
“In February, the committee had agreed that it should request a copy of invoices and details on payments,” Carabott said. “It’s not done for the committee to go against a decision it had previously taken”.
Opposition MP David Agius described the decision not to chase the full information requested as setting a “dangerous” precedent that can be used in future instances.
All four government MPs voted against the request, with the three opposition members voting in favour.