The migration process from St Luke's Hospital to Mater Dei will start as soon as the Government receives confirmation from Skanska that the new hospital has been fully commissioned, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Addressing a news conference at the Auberge de Castille, Dr Gonzi said it was still possible for the hospital to open on time in spite of the delays due to the hospital's IT contract being compromised.

Two persons were charged in court last week over the adjudication of the IT tender.

Dr Gonzi said the government's primary consideration is to ensure that no risks are taken with the health of patients.

It also wanted to ensure transparency in the award of tenders and that all Skanska's tender obligations were honoured. The process could then move ahead.

He said that when the government realised that the IT contract tendering process could be compromised, it wanted to guarantee transparency. Even if this endangered the planned opening of the hospital, things had to be done properly.

He said that although it seemed that for the hospital to open on time it would not have a fully fledged IT system, other solutions which would permit the informatics systems at hospital to function were currently being discussed with experts.

Dr Gonzi said that the modern machinery bought for Mater Dei had internal IT systems so it seemed the hospital would be able to function and provide its services by migration day while ensuring that patients would receive the best possible service.

Skanska, the Prime Minister said, was obliged to give Government a fully commissioned hospital by July 1. Patients would only be moved once the government had certifications confirming that the hospital was fully commissioned.

If Skanska gave their certification before July 1, migration could start earlier. This would be done if the current discussions with the experts concluded that the IT solutions being proposed would permit all this.

Asked whether the services to be offered at Mater Dei would be free of charge, Dr Gonzi said the question should be whether Government would remain in a position to finance its health service, including the supply of good quality medicine.

He said that the efforts made in the past three years were aimed at expanding economic activity to sustain the generous social net the country enjoyed.

Government, he said, would continue doing its utmost to ensure that the country continued to enjoy a guaranteed, and where possible improved, strong social net.

Dr Gonzi was asked whether he had sought legal advice following allegations made against former minister John Dalli, as he had promised to do.

The Prime Minister said the advice was requested at the beginning of December, but it had not yet been given. If the advice would be that Government had a right to sue for the damages the country suffered, it would take all the necessary steps to do so.

Asked about the country's obligations on hunting in view of Malta's membership of the European Union, the Prime Minister said that Government's position had always been clear. It would remain consistent with what it negotiated to the very last moment.

Asked about developments on the golf course, Dr Gonzi said that the indications were that for a golf course at Ghajn Tuffieha to be sustainable, substantial villa development was required.

If this were the case and other alternatives were not found, the process would be stopped.

The Prime Minister said this was the situation at the moment but a decision had not yet been taken. Government believed it was important for the country to improve its tourism product and that it needed to find the means to have a golf course.

However, this would not be developed at all costs, and he would not allow unacceptable development to take place for the sake of the golf course.

On Smart City, the Prime Minister said the very fact that an agreement has been reached was already having positive effects.

For countries wanted to know why Malta was chosen for the development of a replica of the IT centre that existed in Dubai.

He said that a parliamentary resolution was to be moved this month and he hoped that approval would be given quickly for the actual work on site to start by April.

As a result of the project, Cottonera would be offering employment opportunities in informatics in the next 10 to 15 years. The area, he said, was to have a regional centre of excellence in the sector.

In his introduction Dr Gonzi highlighted the country's economic successes which, he said, permitted Government to take measures that improved the people's quality of life.

The first indications for January this year were that the economy was to continue growing at last year's positive pace and the fiscal aims established would be reached.

He said the indications were that as a result of the economic figures achieved Malta would have the excessive deficit procedure removed. The excessive deficit procedure was a measure taken whenever a country's deficit went over three per cent of GDP.

The Prime Minister said that last year's Budget experience, where the people were consulted, would be repeated this year. A leaflet was to be sent to households this week giving an indication of what has been achieved and inviting the people to make suggestions for Budget 2008.