“As you can see, I take decisions.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, two months after Panamagate erupted, after he stripped Konrad Mizzi of his energy and health portfolio but kept him in the Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio – where he will continue to be responsible for the energy sector – and left Keith Schembri in his present role as his chief of staff.

“Enormous insult to people’s intelligence.”

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil reacting to the Prime Minister’s Cabinet reshuffle.

“This will herald a turnaround for Air Malta. It will allow the airline to grow and look towards the future.”

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis speaking about the deal between Alitalia, which is partially owned by Etihad Airways, and Air Malta, in which just under half of the national airline will be sold.

“Of course I do. I wouldn’t have appointed him had I not had confidence in him.”

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna on whether he still had confidence in MFSA chairman Joe Bannister, after the latter was severely criticised by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo who called for his dismissal over an alleged conflict of interest.

“It’s very hard for a foreign person to tap into existing social networks except through work or family.”

Lorna Muscat from SOS Malta on the difficulties migrants face to enter the labour market due to the close-knit social networks in Malta.

“If people boycott Malta they’re not going to hurt the hunters. They’re going to hurt a lot of people who are very hospitable. It’s a great place to come visit, and we do not want people not to come.”

BBC journalist Chris Packham on his return to Malta two years after he was detained by the police, assaulted by gun-wielding hunters and horrified by the sight of dozens of dead protected birds.