Updated - PM comments as Franco Mercieca stops private ops

Updated - PM comments - Parliamentary Secretary Franco Mercieca will no longer conduct private eye operations, following an investigation by The Sunday Times of Malta which found he was earning €3,600 in a morning in breach of the Code of Ethics. The issue was discussed between Mr Mercieca and the prime minister on Tuesday. Mr Mercieca will continue to work free of charge at Mater Dei. Replying to questions this morning, Dr Muscat confirmed that to avoid misinterpretation, Mr Mercieca agreed to immediately stop all his interventions even if this meant that patients would suffer. This, Dr Muscat said, was a wise decision since there were people who, in spite of the waiver, tried to instrumentalise the situation.There was at least one patient who would have to go abroad because he was not referred to Mr Mercieca. The Prime Minister noted that a former minister, who he refused to name, had a consultancy contract with a government company in his own name.  When he was appointed parliamentary secretary for the elderly, Mr Mercieca was granted special permission to continue practising eye surgery when patients required the ophthalmic specialisation only he could provide...