[WATCH] PM expects parliamentary scrutiny of NAO's report on Café Premier

Prime Minister questioned by journalists over Café Premier bailout

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat "expects" the parliamentary public accounts committee to discuss the Auditor General's report into the Café Premier bailout.

He also insisted that political responsibility was shouldered when the National Audit Office was given "full disclosure".

Replying to a series of questions from journalists following a press conference at MaltaPost, Muscat also confirmed that he had twice met Cities Entertainment director Mario Camilleri "months" before the 2013 election but "not to" discuss the Café Premier deal.

"I expect the PAC, which is a parliamentary forum, to discuss the NAO's report and I encourage such a discussion," Muscat said, when asked by MaltaToday whether he felt that parliament merited an explanation on the Cafe Premier deal.

He said that the government was meanwhile preparing a reply to the Auditor General seeking clarifications on a number of issues and a study has now been commissioned on the NAO's findings.

According to Muscat, the NAO was correct in asking for a proper followup on the bureaucracy trail. Asked what lessons he had learnt, Muscat reiterated that the government may have "acted too fast" and was now taking into account the NAO report.

Muscat confirmed meeting Camilleri twice and also said that the Labour Party was currently going through its books to check whether it had received any donations from the directors of Cities Entertainments.

Asked whether any of his ministers had received any such donations, Muscat said the question should be made to them.

Muscat said that during one meeting with Camilleri, the latter had visited him with other Maltco shareholders to discuss the concession extension of Maltco, which was being discussed at the time by the previous administration.

He also said that the Cabinet was kept au courant with the Cafe Premier deal.

Swissleaks : Anyone holding Swiss account 'will be removed'

Muscat also denied having ever meet former PN minister Ninu Zammit - revealed to have held an undeclared Swiss bank account - during the general election and said that he had met former PN minister Michael Falzon - who too held a Swiss bank account - in his then capacity of MDA president.

"In the eventuality that someone is found to have held an undeclared overseas account, he will be removed," Muscat added, when asked what action would he take.