Prime Minister Joseph Muscat weaved around a question today, as to whether or not he will resign if the inquiries into Keith Schembri will find any wrongdoing.

He was addressing a press conference in Mdina.

The Malta Independent asked: "You repeat daily that if the Egrant inquiry finds any form of wrongdoing you will step down. But will you also resign if the other two inquiries find certain  wrongdoing in Keith Schembri's cases, given that he is your Chief of Staff?" He was also asked: The magistrate yesterday found that the inquiry into Egrant is complex. Doesn't this indicate that thinks are not as black and white as you have made them out to be so far?"

He said he does not have insight into the magisterial inquiry. "Things are black and white as I know I am saying the truth. I have no doubt the magistrate is checking all the facts, looking into all issues regarding the allegations made.

He again said that as he would resign if there is some truth to the allegations, then Dr Busuttil must resign if it turns out he lied. "I don't know why Dr Busuttil is resisting this after showing that he trusts in the work of the magistrate."

He said that he will not speculate as to the work the magistrate still needs to do, "as I don't know", but said that he understands the magistrate is making checks with other jurisdictions which were mentioned. He urged the magistrate to conduct all possible avenues.

He noted that PN Leader Simon Busuttil said yesterday that the inquiry will not conclude before the election. "It was as though he had a sigh of relief. I don't think anyone should be happy about all this. I want the inquiry to conclude as quickly as possible, but I am at ease that whenever it is released, it will prove me correct."

"On the other inquiries, there are two, one regarding commercial issues of Keith Schembri (regarding allegations that Keith Schembri made payments to Adrian Hillman), on which an investigation occurred by the Times from what I understand nothing wrong was found since they made an amicable settlement with Mr Hillman. The other regards the other allegations (where PN Leader Simon Busuttil alleged that Keith Schembri received kickbacks for the IIP scheme). He already said that he will carry responsibility where if some form of investigation launches, he will resign."

This newspaper highlighted the issues back in 2008 between former Prime Minister Alfred Sant and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando over the Mistra case, and that Dr Sant now says he would rather vote for ta'L-Ajkla than Dr Pullicino Orlando.

"I understand the situation of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Alfred Sant. I respect both of them. Dr Sant is one of the most honest people I know. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was framed by the PN the way things happened. The story on this has been said and was written. What I know for sure is that they will both vote PL and that at the end of the day is what binds us."

During the press conference, the Prime Minister spoke about family friendly measures, and proposals present in the PL manifesto.

He spoke of introducing the concept of a living wage which would not be obligatory. "First there would need to be a study regarding the adequate level of income in a household and for a person," he said, adding that there will be fiscal incentives for those companies who would offer such a wage, rather than just the minimum wage which would raise every four years as per the agreement with the social partners for the creation of a mechanism