The Prime Minister will take the necessary decisions as tough as they may be in the public interest once all the facts are known, deputy Prime Minsiter Louis Grech said today.

Speaking at a dialogue meeting in Marsa, Mr Grech referred to the shooting incident which saw the Home Affairs Minister’s driver shoot at a car that hit the ministerial car. Later that evening the government said in a statement that warning shots in the air were fired.

Mr Grech said the government admitted when it was wrong, accepted criticism and was willing to listen.

The government also admitted it was the duty of the Opposition to criticise and accepted this. However, the Opposition did not have a monopoly on the truth.

“We have no right to define what is in the public interest and what is political responsibility and the PN’s past does not justify them telling us how and when we should take political responsibility.”

Mr Grech said that the shooting incident had to be addressed.

The Prime Minister had two options - he could have taken immediate action or he could take time to consider the situation and initiate a process to study the facts and decide on them.

The Prime Minister’s chose the latter option. He did not shun political responsibility then and would not do so now.

He would take the decisions that needed to be taken, as tough as they may be, but was prudent and waiting for all the information to come out.

This would place him in a better position to decide and do what needed to be done in the public interest.