The credibility of the inquiry into alleged political interference in the Gozo drugs case is being questioned, since it did not question many of the principal players involved – such as the man who, at the time, was your driver. Given that you were Home Affairs Minister at the time, were you called before the inquiry and, if so, what did you say?

I was asked to appear before the inquiry and I was not at all responsible for choosing who was to lead it. I obviously had nothing to do with who was responsible for deciding who should be called.

One thing which is very, very important to me is that I think every person who knows me well knows that I would not go from Malta with a police escort in order to speak to drugs traffickers and arrange their statements. With all due respect, whoever thinks this is the case is not in their right mind. These things are sheer nonsense.

I’ve always said that whenever I have visited the Gozo Ministry I have done so in an official capacity and not for any illegal or irregular purpose. The inquiry decided what it had to decide and I think I have nothing more to add to that.

Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil and MaltaToday Editor Saviour Balzan still insists that what allegedly happened actually took place, with the former insinuating that it was either you or the Prime Minister who was involved. How would you respond to these statements? Will you be suing for libel?

If you check, you will see that I have hardly ever sued anyone for libel – it has never been my style. I have had one case recently and, thank goodness, it was withdrawn. 

 

On 8 December 2014, Prime Minister Muscat asked for your resignation since you were responsible for the statement (which falsely said that warning shots had been fired in the air) and that you should have ensured the statement was accurate. The Prime Minister also took a stern view – and swift action – in regard to Michael Falzon. In the light of the Panama Papers scandal, why do you think the Prime Minister was much more lenient with Konrad Mizzi? Do you feel that you were treated unfairly?

I am not here to speak about any other person’s point of view or decision: I am here to speak for myself. I think my case was a sui generis one. I mean, it was somebody who allegedly shot at the car. I definitely never asked anyone to do so and I also never covered up for anybody afterwards.

The Prime Minister decided to make a decision, and I respected it. I did not act like a child, but rather as a responsible politician who was elected by the people. I continued to work in the public interest, I attended parliamentary groups and made sure I knew the needs of my constituents. The Prime Minister then decided to give me this ministerial job, and I obviously accepted. In politics, you are part of a team and you follow what the Leader of the team thinks is best. I am not here to question these decisions, to stamp my foot and protest in any way. I think I acted very responsibly.

In April 2016 you were reinstated as a Minister. Why did the Prime Minister bring you back into the fold? Do you feel the Panama Papers revelations applied pressure on the Prime Minister to give you another appointment?

I wouldn’t know, and I cannot answer for somebody else. 

Since you were reinstated as a Minister you have changed all your staff. Do you feel that they are the ones that let you down?

No, I don’t think so and I would thank anybody who has worked with me for their input. I did not choose the same staff for any particular reason, but I thought it was a new Ministry and we would find a new team. I don’t think along those lines at all, and I really do appreciate their work.

 

Are you contesting the next general election and, if so, for which district? 

Yes – I’m contesting in the 9th and 10th districts.

Do you predict another Labour victory? 

Well, obviously elections are elections but I think that the Labour government has worked very well. We have a good economic situation and a good quality of life for our citizens. A very high percentage of the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto has been realised, so I think the Party is a movement that has kept its promises and has really delivered.

Do you think the Sheehan case and the Gozo inquiry will have any adverse effect on your election campaign?

The PM once said that I do not need politics but politics needs me. As you know, I was a lawyer and, modestly speaking, a successful one, with a law firm that had sufficient work. When I decided to contest it was because I had reached a stage in my life where I thought that the country had given a lot to me, so I wanted to give something back to the country. I am in politics for no other reason than that. I believe in being a man of integrity in politics.

As to my performance, this is in the hands of the electorate. It is up to them to choose. Whether these cases have affected me or not, I think basically that anyone who speaks to me, always says that I had nothing to do with the Sheehan case, which has nothing to do with an irregularity on my part. With regard to the Gozo drugs case, I feel that I explained myself earlier.