Mr Brincat said that there was no need for the Department of Information to remind him of the functions of the Public Accounts Committee since it was him who, only a few months ago, was chairman.

Mr Brincat said the government knew that the case does not need to be submitted by the PAC for an investigation to be launched by the auditor general because the issue concerned public funds.

In fact, said Mr Brincat, the auditor general has the power to launch an investigation on his own initiative if he sees fit.

Mr Brincat said that if the prime minister truly believed in transparency, he should request the auditor general to investigate the issue. Mr Brincat rounded off, “...Just as he did on the issue about air tickets being purchased by various ministers, which eventually led to the resignation of former Foreign Minister John Dalli,” he said.