A NEWSLETTER FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC POLICY
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Head of Department
Godfrey Pirotta
Annual Memorial Lecture
Anton Tabone
Public Relations Plan
Mario Thomas Vassallo
Growing Together
July Newsletter 2009
Volume 3 Issue 1
Department of Public Policy
Lawrence Gonzi
Joseph Muscat
Powers of the President
Robert Micallef
Being An Assembly Guide
Edward Warrington
News & Events
Vision, Mission & Goals
Faculty of Economics Management and Accountancy
www.um.edu.mt/fema/publicpolicy
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Head of Department
Godfrey Pirotta
Prof. Pirotta delivering lecture
Message from the Head of Department Professor Godfrey Pirotta
When you read this newsletter the results would have been published and I hope that you
are happy with your results. It has been an extraordinary busy year as the Department
embarked on the process of re-appraising its programmes and exploring new ideas with the
aim to make our courses more relevant to student needs.
This is not an unusual event for our department. If you had to compare current course
modules with those of previous years you will find that we are constantly changing as we
seek to remain relevant to the world outside of university. The outcome of our year long
deliberations will be revealed over the next two years and I hope that students will find the
Public Policy course of greater value than ever before.
That what we have been doing is relevant can be seen from the fact that even before the
results have been published, 80 per cent of our Hons group have obtained employment with
agencies that require employees with a knowledge of EU and public policy affairs. In fact it
was heartening to see these students start on their prospective careers twenty-four hours
after their last exam. We wish them luck.
This year I was approached by several private organizations to recommend students of
Public Policy looking for a good career in the private sector. In each case I was told that the
Public Policy graduates currently in their employment have proved to be a great asset to
their companies and hence they want others if they can be found.
This year also saw the launch of our new website. To access our website and wonderful
brochure go to the University website and then press P under A to Z Index. Public Policy
can be found in its alphabetical place. Special thanks go to Mr Mario Vassallo for the hard
work he put into creating these two documents. I think every one will agree that he has
done a superb job.
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Annual Memorial Lecture
Anton Tabone
Dr. Anton TaboneAnnual Memorial Lecture
Dr. Tabone thank you speech
Dr. Tabone presenting a prize
for excellence to
Blodwen Spiteri
Dr. Warrington introducing speakers
Mgr. Dr. Bezzina &
Prof. G. Pirotta speakers
On Friday 12, June 2009, the Department of Public Policy held the first Dr Anton Tabone
Memorial Lecture at Tigrija Palazz, Rabat, Gozo. The event was sponsored by Magro
Bros of Gozo, producers of the Mayor range of food products, who also made the hall at
Tigrija Palazz available for the occasion.
The theme for this annual lecture was Local Council affairs. Mgr Dr Joseph Bezzina
spoke about Dr Anton Tabone’s life while Prof. Godfrey Pirotta gave a lecture on the
theme ‘The Gozo Civic Council: Lessons for Today.’ After the lecture Dr Anton Tabone,
son of Dr Tabone and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, gave a short
speech thanking the department for organizing the Memorial Lecture. He then
distributed the awards for academic excellence and best dissertations to the students
who graduated in 2007 and 2008.
The event was attended by relatives of Dr Anton Tabone, mayors from Gozo’s Local
Councils, representatives of the Association for Local Councils and members of the
public, in addition to Public Policy students. Mr Christian Magro, a Director of Magro
Bros, represented the company at the event. Christian studied Public Policy as part of
his B.Com studies.
Miller Distrubutors, owners of the Agenda Bookshop chain provided book prizes while
the Department gave the winning students a silver plate with the University’s crest.
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Public Relations Plan
Mario Thomas Vassallo
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives,
nor the most intelligent that survives.
It is the one that is most adaptable to change”
Charles Darwin
(1809-1882)
PUBLIC RELATIONS PLAN
By Mario Thomas Vassallo
The Department of Public Policy at the University of Malta has been around for about three
decades and enjoys an excellent reputation from all stakeholders. However good reputation is
not everlasting; it has to be nurtured, sustained and developed further. In line with the need of
continuous adaptation, the Department of Public Policy has embarked on a solid Public Relations
campaign to make its presence bolder both with present/potential students and employers, as well
as with civil society.
This academic year has been a really busy one for both academic and administrative staff in view
of realising the timely targets that have been listed down on the Departmental PR Plan. Among
the most significant ones that have been already implemented, there are:
The revamping of the interactive departmental website that has been launched
in May 2009. It can be accessed on the following web
address: where on can find info on our courses, lecturers, resources, activities and
partners.
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The publication of the Departmental brochure in June 2009, wherein students
and employers can find easy-to-read information about our
programmes and learning themes, together with testimonials of our graduates.
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The compilation of an Alumni List so as the Department can
establish and sustain a long term relationship with our past students’ community
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The continuous building of excellent rapport among staff and students through
collective/individual meetings, pastoral service and the organisation of social
activities.
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The launching of three annual public lectures dedicated to well known Maltese
personalities who have contributed a strong input towards our statehood over the
20th century. The first one was
organised in Gozo in June 2009 and was well covered in the local
printed/TV media.
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Department of Public Policy
Lawrence Gonzi
Joseph Muscat
The future of the Department of Public Policy is in our hands. We have to build on the excellent
reputation that it has already acquired over the years, while taking on board new opportunities that
come along. We have to be more agile in promoting our philosophy and programmes to students,
employers and the community at large. We also have the potential (and today even the right
qualitative and quantitative human resources) to contribute towards the intellectual development of
our present and future generations, the evolution of the Maltese democracy, and a successful
participation in the European integration process.
Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition
address students of the Department of Public Policy
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Leader of the Opposition Joseph Muscat
addressed students of the Department of Public Policy in separate lectures held
as part of a series of six lectures for first year Public Policy students. The other
lectures in the “Introduction to public policy” module were given by Helga
Ellul, Professor Edward Scicluna, Dr Simon Busuttil and Dr Andre Camilleri who
all shared their life experiences with the students.
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The Powers of the President
Robert Micallef
The Powers of the President by Robert Micallef
One area of public policy that is not often in the spotlight is the presidency of the republic and the role the
constitutional head of state plays in the affairs of the country. The president is elected by the house of representatives for a five year term and acts as a guardian of the constitution of Malta taking an oath to that effect.
But how real are the actual powers of the president? Speaking for the first time in public three months after
leaving the presidency, Eddie Fenech Adami openly reflected upon the trials and tribulations of the post arguing that Maltese presidents are not just figureheads but have what he called ‘residual powers’ – a term first
used by Professor J.J. Cremona - which can come into effect in certain situations.
At a public lecture in Gozo on the 4th of July titled ‘The Throne Without The Power’ Fenech Adami told
students of the Fortunato Mizzi political school that, as President, he could decide not to sign a law he disagreed with if he felt that his morals and beliefs stood in the way.
However, he also admitted that if he decided to take such a stand, he would then have to “face the consequences”. And the reality is that these consequences can be devastating for the holder of the Presidency.
According to the constitution of Malta, Section 48, the holder of the office of the President can be removed
from office by a resolution of the house of representatives on the ground of inability to perform the functions
of his office or misbehaviour. This requires a simple majority in the house of representatives.
In addition, section 49 of the constitution states that whenever the holder of the office is absent from Malta
or on vacation or is for any reason unable to perform the functions conferred upon him by the constitution,
those functions shall be performed by a person appointed by the Prime Minister after consultation with the
Leader of the Opposition.
So, in case of a president who chooses to play a heroic role on the basis of high principles or morality, there
are enough powers invested in the house of representatives by the constitution to neutralize the holder of the
office.
Sections 48 to 50 of Chapter V of the Maltese Constitution deal with the Office of the President:
48. (1) There shall be a President of Malta who shall be appointed by Resolution of the House of Representatives.
(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to the office of President if (a) he is not a citizen of Malta; or
(b) he holds or has held the office of Chief Justice or other Judge of the Superior Courts; or
(c) he is not eligible for appointment to or to act in any public office in accordance with articles 109, 118 and
120 of this Constitution.
(3) The office of President shall become vacant (a) on the expiration of five years from the date of the appointment to that office; or
(b) if the holder of the office is removed from office by Resolution of the House of Representatives on the
ground of inability to perform the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of body or mind
or any other cause) or misbehaviour.
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The Powers of The President
Robert Micallef
49. Whenever the office of President is temporarily vacant, and until a new President is appointed, and
whenever the holder of the office is absent from Malta or on vacation or is for any reason unable to perform
the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution, those functions shall be performed by such person
as the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, may appoint or, if there is no
person in Malta so appointed and able to perform those functions, by the Chief Justice.
50. A person appointed to or assuming the functions of the office of President shall, before entering upon
that office, take and subscribe the oath of office set out in the Second Schedule to this Constitution. Any
person appointed to the office of President under sub-article (1) of article 48 of this Constitution shall take
the oath of office before the House.
In addition, Chapter 7 section 85 outlines the exercise of the functions of the president:
85. (1) In the exercise of his functions the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet
or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet except in cases where he is required by this
Constitution or any other law to act in accordance with the advice of any person or authority other than the
Cabinet:
Provided that the President shall act in accordance with his own deliberate judgment in the performance of
the following functions(a) in the exercise of the powers relating to the dissolution of Parliament conferred upon him by the provisor
to sub-article (5) of article 76 of this Constitution;
(b) in the exercise of the power to appoint the Prime Minister or remove the Prime Minister from office
conferred upon him by article 80 and sub-article (1) of article 81 of this Constitution;
(c) in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by article 83 of this Constitution (which relates to the
performance of the functions of the Prime Minister during absence, vacation or illness) in the circumstances
described in the proviso to sub-article (2)of that article;
(d) in the exercise of the power to appoint the Leader of the Opposition and to revoke any such appointment
conferred upon him by article 90 of this Constitution; and
(e) in signifying his approval for the purposes of subarticle (4) of article 110 of this Constitution of an
appointment to an office on his personal staff.
(2) Where by this Constitution the President is required to act in accordance with the advice of any person
or authority, the question whether he has in any case received, or acted in accordance with, such advice shall
not be enquired into in any court.
(3) The reference in sub-article (1) of this article to the functions of the President shall be construed as a
reference to his powers and duties in the exercise of the executive authority of Malta and to any other
powers and duties conferred or imposed on him as President by or under this Constitution or any other law.
The current holder of the office of president is George Abela who was elected president of the republic of
Malta on the 4th of April 2009 following a parliamentary resolution which unanimously approved his
nomination as the eighth President of Malta. The nomination of Abela marks a historical development in
Malta’s constitutional history since, for the first time in thirty six years, the president was elected by the
unanimous approval of both political parties represented in Parliament.
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Being An Assembly Guide
Edward Warrington
Being an Assembly Guide: Accompanying
People in Decision-making
Edward Warrington
Students of public policy often ask the million-dollar
question: what use will public
policy be to me? Well, here is
an example of a situation where
the knowledge and skills a person acquires by studying public
policy can be useful; it draws
on my experience of guiding the
assemblies of a faith-based organisation known as the Christian Life Community (CLC).
CLC is a Catholic association of lay people who
follow a pattern of living first
set out by St Ignatius of Loyola
in the sixteenth century. The
association has members in 68
countries. It is recognised by
the Holy See and the United
Nations: in fact, it is active in
the Economic and Social Committee of the United Nations,
supporting delegations in New
York and Geneva, and has a
Secretariat in Rome.
The national communities send delegates to a World
Assembly every five years, to
set out policy orientations for
the next five years and to elect a
World Executive Council which
is then responsible for implementing the policy orientations
together with national communities.
Some of the national communities
are large: the French community
numbers 6,000 members. Others
are small and isolated: the community in Cuba has survived years
of persecution and now numbers a
few dozen members; they are rarely
permitted contact with the World
Community.
In August 2008 I guided the
World Assembly which convened
in Fatima, Portugal; and in May this
year, I guided the smaller European
Assembly, in Alicante, Spain. In
both cases, there were three working languages – English, French
and Spanish – as well as informal
meetings in other language groups,
including Portuguese, German and
Swahili. This observation indicates
the complexity of a meeting such as
this: there is a wealth of cultures and
languages to contend with; there are
different experiences and interests,
some of which diverge; there is the
sheer scale of the assembly – 260
delegates in Fatima, meeting over
ten days. Misunderstandings can
arise more easily, sometimes over
something as trivial as the choice of
one word in a translation! Misunderstandings are more likely to produce
friction that hinders the Assembly’s
work – which is to take decisions.
The Guide’s role is to help the Assembly to achieve its objectives in
a spirit of harmony, even if perfect
agreement is not reached.
The Guide is not actually
the person who presides at the
Assembly: in other words, I did
not have the authority a chairperson can normally count on,
which is to call speakers to order, to call for votes in cases of
disagreement, to expel a disruptive delegate, or to lobby behind
the scenes with small cliques.
Rather like the Ombudsman in
Malta, my authority was moral,
not legal.
Several months before the Assembly convened, I
worked with the World Ex Co
on the programme. This was
intended to encourage delegates
to think deeply about the issues
confronting CLC, to consult
widely among themselves, to
listen quietly to external experts
who could shed light on certain
challenges, and to prepare themselves for decisions that would
respond to what we call ‘the
signs of the times’. Prayer and
the search for an understanding of God’s will are essential
characteristics of faith-based
organisations: I had to be sensitive to the fact that this was not,
say, a shareholders’ meeting, or
a political party’s congress.
Early each morning, well
before any of the delegates
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Being An Assembly Guide
Edward Warrington
were awake, I would rise and
prayerfully review the past
day and the programme of
the day that was about to
start. What was the mood of
the Assembly? Who was
contented or discontented?
What issues or questions
were troubling the Assembly
or groups of delegates? How
were the delegates behaving
– for example, how did they
react to particular speakers?
After considering these and
other questions, I would
compose a short message to
the Assembly – never more
than ten minutes – and
review it with the
interpreters, to make sure
that they understood my
message and would be able
to relay it to delegates who
could not speak English.
From time to time, especially
in difficult moments, I would
use my limited knowledge of
French and Spanish to
establish a direct bond with
those language groups.
People respond well to those
who attempt to address them
in their own language.
My address would initiate
the day’s business: I spoke
simply, reflecting back to
the delegates key
moments of their
experience, outlining the
next stage of their
deliberations, voicing their
hopes and, occasionally,
their fears, concerns or
anger. I was required to
become not so much the
Assembly’s voice as its
spirit. Thus, most of my
day was spent listening
with my whole being to the
Assembly, then
‘processing’ the many
messages and signals.
I found this
exhilarating; I
discovered that the
diversity of humanity is
an asset, not a problem.
Integrating the
perspectives of faith
and of high policy is an
unusual challenge: it
contradicted a
commonly-held view
that policy-making
serves the interests of
the few and is really a
cynical exercise.
My last thought
takes me back to
the opening question – the question
you often put to me.
This is where public
Studying public
policy became very
useful. I single out my policy may help you
to work with people,
knowledge of
groups, associations,
decision-making
organisations, in
processes; my
some of the most imunderstanding of the
interplay of competing portant moments of
their lives. It will ofinterests and of the
distribution of power; fer you skills, expertise and insights that
an ability to analyse
ease decision-making
complex situations;
by building bridges.
above all, an ability
It could enable you
to choose words and
experiences that build to exercise real influunderstanding among ence for good, even
in situations where
people.
you might appear
powerless!
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News & Events
Renewing a Link with the
Birmingham University School of
Public Policy
In January 2009, the Department of Public Policy
welcomed ten graduate students from countries as
diverse as Bangladesh and Japan for a week-long
study visit. They were mid-way through a degree
programme leading to the MSc in Public Finance
and Economics offered by the School of Public
Policy at the University of Birmingham; the School
is the largest of its kind in the UK, enjoying a fine
reputation for teaching, research and consulting.
The students were high-ranking government officials
or private consultants taking a year off for full-time
study, part of their commitment to professional
development and life-long learning.
This was not the first time that the
Department welcomed study fellows from the
School: for most of the past eight years, the School
has requested the Department or the Institute of
Public Administration & Management to organise
a study visit of this sort. The School’s academics are
fascinated by Maltese public policy: in fact, Malta is
held up as a ‘model reformer’, ie, a country which
has responded quickly and efficiently to the
challenges arising from globalisation and domestic
change.
In fact, each visit explores a theme of governance or
public policy through carefully-programmed
lectures, seminars and on-site visits. This year’s
theme was the reform of public financial
management and the public policy response to the
financial crisis. Besides having sessions with
members of the Department, the study fellows
visited the Ministry of Finance, the Cabinet Office’s
Internal Audit and Investigations Directorate, the
Management Efficiency Unit and the Policy &
Strategy Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office,
drawing lessons about good practice that could be
applied in their own countries.
31st March Festivities
Professor Godfrey Pirotta was the guest
speaker in Gozo at a function organised by
the Ministry for Gozo to commemorate the
30th Anniversary of Freedom Day. On 31st
March 1979 the British left Malta and
Malta’s role as a military base came to an
end. Professor Pirotta spoke on the theme
Malta, Britain and the True Meaning of
Freedom.
Competitive Malta
A year ago the Department of Public Policy
and Competitive Malta signed an agreement
intended to expand research on
competitiveness in respect of several
economic areas. One outcome of this
collaboration was the dissertation presented
by Gianfranco Abela exploring the impact of
current statutory cost of living payments on
competitiveness in Malta.
This year discussions are taking place with
Magro Brothers with a view to opening-up
new learning opportunities for students of
Public Policy. We shall keep you posted on
developments.
Dining with students
On the 22nd June second year students and two members
of staff and their wives spent a pleasant evening together
at Il-Kaptan, Valletta Waterfront. Getting to know each
other at social events helps to eliminate those difficulties
which sometimes unnecessarily distort relations between
students and staff at university.
The Department is proud of the fact that its relationship
with students is an open one and that we seek to be
accountable to our students in everything we do. A
similar dinner at the same venue is planned for Friday
10th July with third year students.
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News & Events
Diploma in Political Studies
The Department of Public Policy is offering an evening
Diploma course in Political studies to members of the
general public starting in October.
The subjects explored during the course include, among
others, comparative government, political thought and
public policy, political ethics, political sociology, human
rights and politics, and history of governing institutions.
To be admitted to the course candidates must satisfy the
university’s admission regulations.
A Student
Centred
Department
People active in civil society organisations, local councils,
political parties or those generally interested in politics will
find this course very useful. Applications for the Diploma
in Political Studies will be received by the University
Admissions Office as advertised. More information may be
obtained by sending an email to the secretary of the
Department at amanda.bartolo@um.edu.mt.
The Department of Public Policy forms part of the Faculty of Economics,
Management and Accountancy (FEMA) at the University of Malta. Since its inception
in 1978, the Department has been totally committed to the highest quality research,
learning and service in the areas of policy formulation, survey research, organisational
change, and institutional design.
Equipped with a versatile array of professional academic expertise, the Department of
Public Policy provides students with the factual, analytical, practical, and
theoretical skills necessary for contemporary policy design, implementation, and
evaluation. Furthermore the Department promotes direct linkages both with other
national and European academic agencies and also with the business world through
fieldwork, study visits, applied research assignments and dissertations.
The Department cares for its students and provides them with support during the
course and in advancing their careers. Students also find a strong element of
accountability and staff is always willing to provide guidance and pastoral service. Our
coursework marking scheme is open and transparent, so thatstudents have a means of
knowing how their marks are arrived at.
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Vision, Mission & Goals
Our Vision
To make leaders out of ordinary people.
Our Mission
To empower students and policy practitioners to take leadership positions by acquiring
cutting-edge competencies in the fields of political, economic and social development
through quality education, knowledge creation and research design.
Our Goals
To provide students, administrators, managers and others who participate in public
affairs with challenging leadership development opportunities in private/public management
and policy making.
To equip under-graduate and post-graduate students of all ages with competencies that will
improve the quality of policy formulation and decision-making in governmental,
non-governmental and business organisations, locally and abroad.
To draw academia, business and government into mutually beneficial relationships that
contribute to good governance, national competitiveness and social stability.
To train scholars and researchers who can contribute to the development of the policy
science.
Newsletter Editor:
Students or staff members who have department related
information which they would like to include in the next
Robert Micallef
newsletter may contact Robert at
Resident Academic
robert.micallef@um.edu.mt
Department of Public Policy
Faculty of Economics
Management and Accountancy
Msida 2080
Tel: 2340 3358
E-mail: publicpolicy.fema@um.edu.mt