Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that he didn't publish the terms of reference regarding the inquiry into Charles Mercieca, a lawyer who was employed with the Attorney General's Office but is now defending Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder suspect Yorgen Fenech, based on legal advice.

Speaking in Parliament, Labour MP Jean Claude Micallef asked a supplementary question during question time to the Minister for Justice regarding the findings of the inquiry into Mercieca, and whether they will be made public.

Zammit Lewis said that "the decision not to publish the terms of reference was taken and based on legal advice. Publically publishing the terms of reference could prejudice those who could be asked to testify."

He added that such a situation "was not a public inquiry and he has no intention of hiding anything." He added that "publishing such terms of reference was more politically appropriate."

"The inquiry was set up under the inquiries act and has no intention of disciplining lawyers because such matters are being taken care of by the Commission for the Administration of Justice," he said.

Zammit Lewis on Wednesday also said that "the law courts have now been closed for two months due to COVID-19 but the government is working on a plan in order to slowly re-open them. However, such a plan is only possible when it will be endorsed by all stakeholders."