The Prime Minister yesterday staunchly defended Finance Minister Tonio Fenech who travelled to London to watch a football match in a private jet owned by one of the bidders for the Dragonara Casino.
In March, Mr Fenech accepted an invitation by businessman Joe Gasan to watch his favourite football team, Arsenal, and travelled to London with Tumas Group's private jet.
Lawrence Gonzi insisted yesterday at a party meeting in Żurrieq that claims of a possible conflict of interest formed part of a mud-slinging campaign by parties who wanted to influence the government's decision on who would get the licence to run the casino.
Tumas Group is one of the three bidders for the 10-year lease of the Dragonara Casino in St Julians.
Referring to media reports, Dr Gonzi denied any conflict of interest and pointed out that Mr Fenech had asked for permission before accepting the invitation.
The media over the weekend reported extensively on a PN parliamentary group meeting on Saturday, which ended up in "a shouting match" involving backbenchers Robert Arrigo and Beppe Fenech Adami.
Among other things, the parliamentary group discussed in detail the lotteries and gaming Bill and Dr Gonzi denied there were any problems among the group about the matter, saying he was satisfied with the common ground they had reached on the Bill.
Addressing a Labour public meeting yesterday, leader Joseph Muscat accused Dr Gonzi of making a U-turn on the proposed regulations for the gaming industry after pressure from his parliamentary group. But the Finance Ministry denied any U-turn and pointed out that the changes would bring about harsher regulations to protect vulnerable people.
Dr Gonzi had harsh words for the PL's motion on the Delimara extension tabled in Parliament which, he said, attempted to influence the Auditor General's investigations.
Dr Gonzi said it was ironic that the opposition had filed a motion to discuss the controversial extension after Public Affairs Committee Chairman Charles Mangion requested the Auditor to investigate.
Speaking about next year's budget, Dr Gonzi reiterated his promise not to add any taxes and said it would focus on people in need while creating incentives for more foreign and local direct investment.
He said the government had a long list of projects lined up for next year and added that Valletta would be the main focus of capital projects.
Dr Gonzi, who was being interviewed by PBS journalist Keith Demicoli, was reminded about projects that had been promised, such as Ċirkewwa, and others that had failed, like the regeneration of the Ta' Qali Crafts Village.
Although he did not give any deadline for the long-promised Ċirkewwa terminal, Dr Gonzi said it would be ready by the end of this legislature. However, funds still had to be found, he said. Similarly, the government failed to get EU funds for the crafts village project but this did not mean the project had been shelved. He gave a tentative date - early 2010 - by which time the government would present the long-awaited draft legislation on in vitro fertilisation.