NATIONAL DRUGS AND ADDICTIONS UNIT (ESTABLISHMENT AS A SPECIALISED UNIT) [ S.L. 595.50 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 595.50 NATIONAL DRUGS AND ADDICTIONS UNIT (ESTABLISHMENT AS A SPECIALISED UNIT) ORDER 1st November, 2024 LEGAL NOTICE 285 of
- The title of this order is the National Drugs and Addictions Unit (Establishment as a Specialised Unit) Order.
- In this order, unless the context otherwise requires: - "addictions" means addiction to drugs, gambling, gaming and includes any other addiction; Citation. Interpretation. alcohol, "framework regulations" means the Organisation, Administration and Operation of Specialised Units Regulations. S.L. 595.
- "Minister" means the Minister responsible for social policy; "Unit" means the specialised Unit known as the National Drugs and Addictions Unit established by virtue of regulation
- 3.
(1)There shall be a specialised unit, to be known as the National Drugs and Addictions Unit, which shall be managed by a Head, to be appointed by the Minister and to be styled as a NonExecutive Chairperson, who shall be assisted by five
(5)other persons who shall be public officers who hold a post of Director, Senior Manager, Manager II or Manager I in the public service. Establishment and composition of the Unit.
(2)The Head of the Unit shall report to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for social policy.
(3)Unless otherwise provided in this order the Unit shall in its administration and operation be regulated by the provisions of the framework regulations. 4.
(1)The Unit shall: (
- a)identify and formulate yearly national reports on the drug situation and the responses to same on issues related to the prevalence, prevention, treatment, recovery and enforcement matters related to drugs and addictions; (
- b)collate, verify, analyse and publish statistics and data related to drugs and addictions which, inter alia, give indications related to the national scenario; Functions of the Unit. 2 NATIONAL DRUGS AND ADDICTIONS UNIT (ESTABLISHMENT AS A SPECIALISED UNIT) [ S.L. 595.50 (
- c)conduct surveys, studies and submit reports on the ongoing situation in relation to drugs and addictions; (
- d)facilitate and monitor the necessary coordination and participation between government departments, agencies and other concerned entities in the collection and collation of data related to drugs and addictions; (
- e)act as the national focal point for local and international collaboration on prevention, treatment, recovery, enforcement and epidemiological issues related to drugs and addictions; (
- f)organize, coordinate and maintain research networks in relation to the situation in Malta and participate in related networks and other activities organized by international entities; and (
- g)perform such other functions in the field of drugs and addictions as the Minister may direct.
(2)In the performance of its functions the Unit shall ensure scientific independence and shall maintain the quality of data collected in accordance with European Union standards. Defined period. 5. The defined period of the Unit shall be of six
(6)years: Provided that at the end of or at any time during the defined period, the Minister may on the basis of an assessment of the workings on the Unit, recommend to the Prime Minister that the functions of the Unit shall be carried out through an entity established under a different legal form. Tenure of office of Head of Unit. 6. The Head of the Unit shall hold office for a maximum term of three
(3)years and may be reappointed. A person shall not be qualified to hold the office of the Non-Executive Chairperson if such person is a Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, a Member of, or a candidate for election to the House of Representatives, or a member of a local government authority. Proceedings.
- Without prejudice to the provisions of this order and of the framework regulations, the Unit shall regulate its own proceedings and may appoint sub-committees. Secretary to the Unit.
- There shall be a Secretary to the Unit who shall be a person appointed as such by the Minister or by a public officer designated by the Minister to act as Secretary to the Unit. Persons assisting the Unit.
- The Unit shall have the power to appoint experts to assist it in any matter under its consideration, as it may reasonably consider to be necessary. NATIONAL DRUGS AND ADDICTIONS UNIT (ESTABLISHMENT AS A SPECIALISED UNIT) [ S.L. 595.50 10.
(1)The Unit shall have a distinct legal personality and shall be capable of entering into contracts, of suing and being sued and of doing all such things and entering into such transactions as are incidental or conducive to the fulfilling of its objectives. 3 Legal status of the Unit.
(2)The legal and judicial representation of the Unit shall vest in the Head of the Unit or in any other member or officer of the Unit as the Head of the Unit, may authorise in writing for such purpose. 11.
(1)At least two
(2)months prior to the end of its financial year, the Unit shall submit a work and financial plan covering the proposed activities of the Unit during the following financial year. A subvention as may be agreed with the Ministry of Finance shall be provided in the annual budget through the Ministry responsible for social policy to enable the conduct of the said activities. Work and financial plan and financing.
(2)Without prejudice to sub-article
(1)it shall be the duty of the Director responsible for finance within the Ministry responsible for social policy to ensure the proper disbursement of the subvention in order that the activities outlined in the work plan are completed to the full.
(3)The Unit shall enter into a grant agreement with the European Union Drug Agency to cover activities related to Malta’s obligations on reporting on drugs and addictions. 12.
(1)The Director responsible for finance at the Ministry responsible for social policy shall keep proper accounts of the income and expenditure of the Unit. Accounts and audit.
(2)The accounts of the Unit shall be audited by an auditor or auditors to be appointed by the Unit with the approval of the Minister: Provided that the Minister responsible for finance may require the books and other documents of the Unit to be audited or examined by the Auditor General who shall for this purpose have the power to carry out such physical control and other verifications, and to demand and acquire such information, as he may deem necessary.
(3)The financial year of the Unit shall commence on the 1st January and shall end on the 31st December of each year: Provided that the first financial year of the Unit shall commence on the date of the coming into force of this order and shall end on the 31st day of December of the following year. 13.
(1)The Unit shall, by not later than three
(3)months after the close of each financial year, submit to the Minister a copy of the annual report which shall include the annual accounts certified by the appointed auditors, a report on the Unit’s activities during the year Annual report. 4 [ S.L. 595.50 NATIONAL DRUGS AND ADDICTIONS UNIT (ESTABLISHMENT AS A SPECIALISED UNIT) and a general report of developments during the period to which it relates in respect of matters falling within the functions of the Unit.
(2)The Minister shall cause a copy of the annual report together with a copy of the then current business and financial plan of the Unit, to be laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by not later than four
(4)weeks after receipt of the report provided that in reckoning the said period no account shall be taken of any time during which the House of Representatives is not in session or during which it is adjourned for more than seven
(7)days.