Finance Minister Tonio Fenech yesterday refuted a charge by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat that he had misled the House on the publication of excerpts from the Smart meter contract.
Once question time ended, Dr Muscat drew the Speaker’s attention that in answer to a question on the day’s agenda, Mr Fenech told Opposition Whip Joe Mizzi that IBM had withheld permission for excerpts from the contract to be disclosed. Dr Muscat said that last week, in answer to a PQ from himself, Minister Fenech had said excerpts would be published pending permission from IBM.
Replying to Dr Muscat’s comments, Mr Fenech disagreed he had misled the House. He said that even last week he had said that IBM had withheld permission.
Deputy Speaker Ċensu Galea, who was presiding the session at the time, said the House noted both comments and reserved its position to a future date.