Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today that the shooting incident involving the driver of Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia had cast a shadow over the government, and the people had expected better.

He said he would not shirk from taking his decisions but it was his cardinal principle that all involved should first explain their position and investigations should be completed so that the full truth would emerge.

Decisions would then be taken in a serene manner.

Dr Muscat made his comments at the Birkirkara Labour Party Club, a few minutes after Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said the Prime Minister was the centre-forward in the Labour team and it was important that he did not become the goalkeeper, and especially the goalkeeper to prevent Labour's own goals.

It was important, he said, for the government to preserve its moral authority while the prime minister scored more goals in economic growth and the promotion of values, including the values of fairness, diversity and inclusivity.

Mr Bartolo hit out at the Nationalist Party, which, he said,lacked the credibility and credentials of honesty and was trying to restore its virginity.

The Opposition has presented a no-confidence motion in Dr Mallia, while Labour MP Marlene Farrugia told RTK yesterday that she would have resigned had she been in the minister's position.

Dr Muscat said that while he would shoulder his responsibility as prime minister, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, if he wanted to be credible, should order his MPs to refund the €1.3 million from the honoraria raise which they had pocketed despite giving the impression that they had reimbursed it.

In his address, Dr Muscat spoke on the achievements of the Labour government, saying the most important was how a trend of growing unemployment under the former government had been reversed, and unemployment now was at a record low. 

Contrary to the former government, the present government was also achieving its Budget projections, particularly with regard to the deficit. In its analysis of the Budgets of the EU member states last week, the European Commission placed Malta with a group of countries about which it raised some questions, but which did not need to change anything in the Budget.

The fact that Malta did not need to change anything - contrary to what happened under the former governemnt - was a major governemnt achievement, Dr Muscat said. The major problem for the EU was that the Malta Budget was presented late, in November. This was something which Malta would have to remedy in the future, Dr Muscat said.

He underlined the measures in the Budget to encourage people to work, noting the bonus of €1,000 per child for couples on the minimum wage when both declared their employment.

The government had also given a bonus of €35 to all over and above the cost of living compensation. This bonus and the 58c cost of living increase was higher that the cost of living increase of €1.16 given by the former governemnt three years ago, when the power tariffs were raised. The increase this year equated to €1.25 and power and fuel prices were going down.

The prime minister also highlighted the measures taken in the Budget to benefit people with disabilities and said this was a process which would continue in order to further the inclusivity of such people.

He said the Budget was built on optimism, and the future was brought for the country as the government continued to work for further economic growth and usher in a culture of fairness even in social benefits.