Rumblings of a mini-reshuffle

The government's IT agency is on standby after being told of possible changes in the set-up of the Administration as the Prime Minister mulls over a replacement for Social Policy Minister John Dalli.

In the coming two weeks, Lawrence Gonzi will have to decide who is to fill the ministerial vacancy created by Mr Dalli's departure to Brussels to take up his seat as EU commissioner.

On Sunday Dr Gonzi said Mr Dalli's departure would not cause an earthquake to Cabinet's set-up. However, it is probable Dr Gonzi may choose to have one or two new ministries.

Any changes in portfolios but, more significantly, the addition of new ministries would entail changes to the government's IT infrastructure and employees at Malta Information Technology Agency have been put on standby, government sources said. Mita handles the public sector's IT infrastructure.

Dr Gonzi is keeping his cards close to his chest but sources have suggested he could split the social policy mega-ministry into two, promoting Joe Cassar to Health Minister from parliamentary secretary and nominating somebody new as Social Policy Minister.

Dr Gonzi may also opt for a musical chairs approach, appointing a pair of experienced hands from his Cabinet to take on social policy and, in turn, promote one of the parliamentary secretaries to minister.

Another change could possibly be the creation of a Tourism and Sustainable Development Ministry, which would include the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, headed by Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco.