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• All-Island Licensing
• Delimiting the issue of Ply-for-Hire Licences
 

RTA2001 Consultation Office, Highways Division, Department of Transport, Sea Terminal, Douglas IM1 2RF
 
Email: rta2001@gov.im
 

TWIOM is proving to be a positive force in promoting the interests of Island passengers and we applaud it for that. It is an enthusiastic people's organisation to which government listens.

The developing website is a mine of useful information and well worth looking at:

Of the many people who attended our busy little stall on Tynwald Day not one person got a totally correct answer to our Competition.

No prizes now, but have a go yourself to see how well YOU understand the IoM Depositors Compensation Scheme:

You, as an individual, have savings, but no borrowings, with an Isle of Man bank. What is the maximum you will receive should that bank collapse if your savings are:

a) £10,000? ................

b) £20,000? ................

c) £200,000? ..............

d) £2million?...............

The answers can be found at the foot of our Guestbook page. Feel free to add any comments on the DCS whilst you are there. Previous DCS news

Manx Food Online Questionnaire

Be quick to respond to this consultation exercise - it closes on 18th August 2008. There's about 30 tick box answers required covering all aspects of locally produced food products.

It's encouraging that the views of the consumer are being sought. About 1500 questionnaires have been sent out to randomly selected members of the public.

Opinions are also being sought from as many people as possible via a downloadable document: http://www.gov.im/daff/consultations/

P A G urges you to have your say on this important subject.

Thursday 28th August 2008 6:30pm at the Manx Museum Theatre

Garbage Warrior followed by I Is For India

P A G persuaded the Arts Council to include documentaries in the 2008 IoM Film Festival programme and we are pleased to say that two will be screened. Come to one or both. The event is free and open to all - just turn up on the night, with others.

Ramsey

Monday 15th September 2008 at 6.15pm & 8.00pm the Town Hall

Who Killed The Electric Car?

This is free, by invitation only so if you or friends or family want to come please E-mail for tickets to: info@positiveactiongroup.org. State which time you prefer as there are only 50 seats for each screening.

After this the next P A G public event is on Monday 29th September 2008.

Tynwald Day Petitions from 2 PAG Members

Members Joe Duffy and Roger Gimbert presented Petitions of Grievance at this year's (2008) Tynwald Ceremony.

Joe Duffy wants an investigation into the provision of dental and orthodontic services in the Island, claiming many people have been driven, against their choice, into the private sector to get treatment. Synopsis   In full

Rodger Gimbert, Peel Commissioner and also ardent data protection campaigner, presented a petition regarding the transfer of Manx residents data to the UK and the security issue this raises in light of the UK’s poor record on data security.In full
 

Depositors Compensation Scheme

The Treasury’s announcement not to update the existing Depositors Compensation Scheme is a bitter blow to all those with with savings in any Isle of Man account. PAG urges the Treasury to reconsider. More...

Access to Information
Ombudsman
Auditor General

We recently provided feedback to the above. This is very close to my heart - my wallet is usually carried in my breast pocket*. We have suggested that there should be much greater protection for Isle of Man residents money. Please see the consultation document and our feedback to it on our documents page.

*note to pickpockets - not any longer.

WW3 Outbreak

Fear not, faint-hearted reader. This is of course a reference to the latest statement emanating from our masters that qualifies for a special mention in our weasel words section. The full text is here.

Please let us know of any further outbreak.

The Department are making a genuine consultative effort. Please do not pass up this opportunity to register your opinion on a matter that will affect the Island for generations.

Meeting on ‘Alcohol in our society’ at the Claremont, Douglas on 25th February

A majority of attendees felt existing laws must be more rigidly enforced and that our present Combined Drug and Alcohol Strategy was a disaster. There was overwhelming support for the government to formulate a distinct Alcohol Strategy.

 Manx Herald Report  Manx.net Report

Note: AAS provides a totally confidential advice and counselling service to any drinkers and their families who are experiencing problems relating to alcohol use. Anyone needing help or advice can phone AAS in absolute confidence on 627656 or consult the AAS Website at www.alcoholadvisoryservice.co.uk]

‘DHSS Makes Progress With New Patient Administration System’

DHSS Press Release

About the same time member Rodger Gimbert brought to public attention the matter of biometric fingerprinting of Island Primary school children. Since then there has been the scandal of millions of lost personal details in the U K.

Proposals for the Manx Taxation Strategy for the Period 2007-2012

We have written to the Treasury about "Proposals for the Manx Taxation Strategy for the Period 2007-2012" Thanks to Treasurer Joe Duffy for studying this. Our submission is here.

We recommend attendance at the Income Tax Seminars on 10th and 17th January 2008 http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/treasury/incometax/pdfs/seminardetails.pdf

2008 Elections

Yes there are two major happenings this year !

Legislative council

In February the House of Keys will elect 4 members to the Legislative Council.

Existing LegCo members retiring by rotation are:-

  Pamela Crowe       Clare Christian       Edmund Lowey       Juan Turner

P A G continues to lobby for a popularly elected Legislative Council and is disappointed that the Constitution Bill, as amended by Martyn Quayle, has been sidelined by that member. A year ago we were optimistic that there was a genuine willingness in the vast majority of the elected M H Ks to push legislation through. Sadly it appears that we were misguided.

Local Authority Elections

These will take place Island-wide on 24th April 2008. A number of our supporters are Commissioners and some who aren't have indicated an intention to stand for election. It could be invaluable experience for the General Election in September 2011.

Investigative Journalism

Gavin MacFadyen's talk in October caused quite a stir and a lot of interest. One of the ideas he mentioned was "Citizen Journalism" which has taken off in the U S A. Ordinary members of the public report the news and broadcast it via the internet.

A recent BBC Radio 4 programme "New Kids on the Blog" explained how the digital revolution is changing the face of American media.

With the internet explosion, Americans now get their news from an increasing number of sources, especially a new generation of web-based journalists. Could it happen here?

John Wright’s report was expected in April 2007. Unsurprisingly delayed - there was no permanent administrative support granted until that very month - it was presented to the Council of Ministers in September 2007. The Council of Ministers have now given themselves a deadline of July 2008 to respond.

The facts speak for themselves so comment is unnecessary.

A copy of the report is here and it is important reading. I have personally managed several elections from an IT perspective in England and took quality and professionalism perhaps for granted. it is amazing that something so critical to the democratic process is so slipshod. 

I personally had no idea that this inquiry took place, and suggest that few others did given that just seven members of the public are listed in the appendix. Perhaps government has to show they listen first.

I could not help noticing that most of the consultation document appears to be a direct lift from another published with a foreword by a Mr T. Blair in some offshore island near here. The Tynwald document is available here and Mr Blair’s paper (produced by the Better Regulation Executive or BRE) is here - or is it the other way around? - it is hard to tell.

Actually I made a mistake... there is a difference after all...

Whilst that Mr Blair- a man not known for his generosity in such matters - felt there should be a twelve week minimum period for public consultation (text and a nice pic of his on page 3) , our leaders have decided that we only need half that - just six weeks.

What a brave stand our leaders have made on our behalf - what efficiency!

Given our brave media it shall be a very quick and quiet six weeks indeed.

Weasel Words

“What?” I hear you ask, “a Weasel Words outbreak on the Isle of Man?”. Well sit tight dear reader as I believe it’s been a long running problem that is perhaps now peaking to epidemic proportions.

A member - AKA Diogenes - informs us of a recent nasty outbreak at Tynwald Farm. As the authorities have been rather slow to set up a thirty kilometre exclusion zone (admittedly a trifle difficult here) there is a danger of further outbreaks. With this in mind we have quarantined Diogenes words onto their own page.

I suspect more will follow - please let me know if you become aware of this particularly virulent strain of Weasel Words.

PAG Late October Meeting at the Claremont

We held a successful meeting on both the Webcasting of Tynwald and the first Island showing of the hard-hitting documentary film ‘Taking Liberties’ at the Claremont on Monday 22nd of October. PAG member Tristram Llewellyn-Jones introduced the film and has written a summary on the meeting here.

Public to be Consulted on Public Consultation

It is important that the government get good feedback on their review of public consultation. PAG member Jeff Garland recently sent the Examiner a letter on this issue.

Steam Packet Winter Sailings discussed on Manx Radio’s ‘Talking Heads’ program, 19th October 2007

(approximately 25 minutes)

PAG Request that the oral hearings of the Select Committee on the MEA be broadcast on Manx Radio

PAG sent the following email to Steve Rodan, Chair of the Select Committee on 18 October:

Investigative Journalism and the Isle of Man

The public meeting of October 2nd featured a talk by Gavin Macfadyen, director of The Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Delayed slightly by our need to ransack the Claremont for every available chair, you could have heard a pin drop whilst Gavin gave a frank, sometimes harrowing, sometimes humorous though ultimately uplifting talk.

It was very good to see a fair sprinkling of local politicians and journalists. We would support anyone inspired by Gavin’s fine speech.

Short interview of Gavin recorded during visit.

PAG Submission to the Select Committee of Tynwald on the Affairs of Braddan Parish Commissioners

PAG delivered its submission to the Select Committee of Tynwald on 31st August and it may now be viewed from our documents page.

PAG urges the Committee to be bold and to set out specific recommendations that aim to restore the public’s confidence and credibility in our system of Public Service Administration, in particular to introduce a “Conflicts of Interest Act” for the Isle of Man as a matter of some urgency.

See also our Conflicts of Interest and Charter pages.

“Only telling the truth when a lie doesn't fit”

The Select Committee on the M E A resumes its investigations on the 29th August. Former M H K Dominic Delaney gives his forthright opinion about the debacle to David Callister on Manx Radio’s Agenda programme of the 6th August:                           (approximately 12 minutes)

Select Committee of Tynwald on the Steam Packet Company

PAG Submission Tynwald press release Discussion on User Agreement

The remit of the Select Committee has now been extended to include consideration of the standard of service and the extent to which it is in accordance with the User Agreement.

During a recent debate, some MHKs suggested that there a lot of myths surrounding the User Agreement. They are right perhaps but the answer is in their own hands. Myths persist where the truth is obscured. If you wish to view the Agreement before commenting you will have to get to the Tynwald offices during your lunchtime to pore over this 300 page legal document.

Apparently Tynwald either does not have sufficient resources or the wit to make the agreement available by email or on the website. It is a shame that our representatives do not feel able to grant easy access to a document signed and paid for in our name, that they now invite our opinion upon. What price worthwhile public consultation?

Mediation and the Isle of Man

Following a very warm reception at the PAG public meeting at the Claremont on Monday June 18th, Dr. Hanna obliged with a brief talk recorded at the Sefton Hotel, Douglas the following day. Please click here to view the video.

Our thanks go to Dr. Hanna and Nancy Peterson for such an illuminating talk. Their latest press release concerning their relocation to the Isle of Man can be found here.

Isle of Man Independent Ombudsman Service

Our Charter calls for a fully independent Ombudsman Service to be established. The Chief Minister recently confirmed progress towards establishing this service. The full text appears in our Ombudsman page.

Manx Herald

A new, free electronic newspaper for the Island is now available. To view please go to www.manxherald.com 

Freedom of Information

PAG has made a submission to the government on Freedom of Information. Full details on our documents page. Latest news on FoI here.