First, there was the study into motorcaravans in the Algarve. This was released in January 2014 after seven years work with the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Algarve) announcing it had "established a protocol" with the region’s mayors and the regional tourist board.
The agreement aimed “to create and promote the Autocaravan Support Network in the Algarve Region” and covered an inadequate 26 campsites and service areas.
Moving Portugal’s Air Force from its Montijo airbase to make way for Lisbon’s planned second airport will cost an estimated €372 million.
The government chose the Montijo air base solution, rather a second airport in Sintra or Alverca, or building a completely new airport at Alcohete, on logistical, cost and speed grounds - all of which rapidly are eroding.
Banco Popular remains open for business in Spain and Portugal after 100% of Banco Popular’s shares were bought yesterday by Santander for a symbolic €1.
The transfer has been pitched as ‘part of a resolution measure’ after the European Central Bank determined that the financial institution was not viable, giving it a damning "failing or likely to fail" vedict.
António Guterres, the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, opened the Oceans Conference on Monday, June 5th and emphasised the need to conserve the oceans and to use them in a sustainable way.
"The health of our oceans and seas requires us to put aside short-term national gain, to avoid long-term global catastrophe.”
António Domingues was paid over €120,000 in the four months he was in charge of Caixa Geral de Depósitos, according to the 2016 annual report from the State owned bank.
Domingues was paid a salary of €30,214 per month between September and December last year, significantly more than José de Matos, who was president of the bank until August 31, 2016 and who struggled by on €16,578 a month.
Portugal’s Army is to be supplied with new radar and air defence missiles at a cost of €32 million in a contract stretching to 2026, according to Defence Minister, José Azeredo Lopes.
The purchase order signed by Lopes indicates that the weapon systems are for "anti-aircraft protection of military forces and the protection of sensitive places and high-visibility events."
A reported 50 police carried out further searches today, this time at hospitals in Lisbon and Oporto, as part of the contuning plasma supply corruption case named, Operation O Negative, and made three doctors arguidos - official suspects.
In December last year, the then administrator of Octapharma, Paulo Lalanda e Castro, was arrested in Germany and later released under caution to appear in Lisbon to answer further questions relating to allegations that he corrupted NHS officials and others to ensure his company was the sole supplier of plasma products to Portugal’s health and emergency services.
The government’s flawed plan to contract helicopters to provide emergency medical cover may soon come to end with the announcement today of a new tendering process to hire helicopters that will be used only for medical emergencies and not doubling up as a fire fighting resource.
The problems in the past, apart from the embarrassment of having bought dodgy Kamov helicopters that have spent much of their time grounded due to technical issues, have included periodic gaps in specialist medical staff availability and the use of the helicopters for fire fighting duties.
