The Opposition’s motion of no confidence in Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia will be debated once the inquiry is over, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat insisted today.

He was replying to questions during a visit to the Pembroke Sports School project.

When formally presenting its no confidence motion to the Speaker yesterday, Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco deplored the Prime Minister’s comments that the debate would be held after the conclusion of the inquiry since no judicial inquiry would assess political responsibility.

Asked about this, Dr Muscat insisted he would wait for the conclusion of the inquiry to see if the situation was handled in the right way.

The Opposition has accused Dr Mallia of a cover-up over an incident in which his driver fired three shots at another car.

The Prime Minister was also asked if he had at least expected an apology from Equal Opportunities Minister Helena Dalli on her controversial Zejtun property where works were being carried out in spite of an enforcement notice.

He had said that things in this and other issues could have been done better.

Dr Muscat said he believed Dr Dalli herself acknowleged things have been done better.

Dr Dalli yesterday said somebody had to assume political responsibility for the way the Opposition had twisted the truth and lied about her over the works.