Perspective - Manx Radio

In Tynwald on Tuesday 18th June, the court voted unanimously to declare a 'climate emergency', despite not committing to a date for net carbon neutrality. In this podcast, MHKs Ralph Peake (who moved for a climate emergency) and Lawrie Hooper (who wanted a commitment for carbon neutrality by 2035), former MHK Phil Gawne, Bill Dale of Beach Buddies and Archibald Elliott of the Student Climate Network discuss their thoughts. Originally broadcast live, the episode includes input via text and email from Friends of the Earth and other individuals.

Dollin Mercer speaks to Philanthropist Tony Fox BEM, Military historian and museum director Ivor Ramsden MBE, Sports champion Tonia Lushington MBE, President of Tynwald Steve Rodan OBE and Songwriter, producer and author Mitch Murray CBE.

Ceremonies have been held to mark the 75th anniversary of one of the most significant dates in the modern era of the western world. Tuesday, 6th June 1944, saw what is widely considered to be the largest combined land, air and seaborne invasion in history. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it was the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II, unleashed with the words "let's go". More than 4-thousand Allied troops died during the operation to liberate France. Dollin Mercer looks back at the day itself, and events which have commemorated it this week.

On the 24th of May, reformed abortion law came into effect in the Isle of Man. This means that a woman on the Island can now have a pregnancy terminated up to 14 weeks by request and up to 24 weeks in cases of foetal anomalies, serious social reasons and where the life of the mother is at risk or if the child would die or suffer seriously shortly after birth. We follow the journey of this bill, now law, from its humble beginnings through protests, amendments and petitions to last week, when the law came into effect.

To discuss end of life care, plans and the policy of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Dollin Mercer is joined by Judith Ley, Sue Wilson (Sue.Wilson@gov.im) from Community Health Centre, Rosie McCaffrey from the DHSC (RosaleenMcCaffrey@gov.im), Arthur Taggart who cared for his wife at the end of her life, and paramedic Steve Herron (Steven.Herron@ambulanceservices.dhss.gov.im). Contact the DHSC community care by email: IntegratedCommunityCare.DHSC@gov.im

Hector Duff, Richard Davis, John Teare, Paul Davenport and Kev Willson talk policing on a push bike, the Summerland disaster and mental health.

Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot, Manx Utilities Chairman Alex Allinson and Joney Faragher & Andrew Netwon of the Climate Change Coalition talk climate change policy and solutions. In the second half of the program, we're joined by Devon Watson also of the CCC and representatives of the Isle of Man Student Climate Network, Ciara, Emily and Archie.

An extended interview with Dr Peter Duncan, Senior Marine Biodiversity Officer for the Isle of Man Government.

Join Tim Graham Chief Executive at the Manx Wildlife Trust, Richard Selman Ecosystems Policy Manager for the Isle of Man Government and Neil Morris from Manx Birdlife as we discuss man's relationship with nature, the impacts of climate change and, the somewhat controversial presence of wallabies...

Director of Foodbank Isle of Man Neal Mellon and Lieutenant Dylan Nieuwoudt of the Salvation Army talk homelessness, poverty and empowering the vulnerable.

Daphne Caine MHK, Stephanie Kelsey from La Jolie Ronde, Eleanor Radcliffe (a student who speaks 4 languages), Emma Humphrey (a private tutor of languages) and Annie Kissack from Bunscoill Ghaelgagh join Dollin Mercer to discuss the decline of modern language learning on the Isle of Man.

How much of a role does the public house now play in the community? What about cheap supermarket beer? Where have all the pubs gone?! We talk pub politics with four booze boffins.

Perspective 24/03 In May 2018, government made a move that will undoubtedly define its administration for years to come. It used £124m of the Manx taxpayer money to purchase the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. - taking it from Portuguese company Banco Espirito Santo and bringing it into public ownership. However, the proposed takeover which led to the nationalisation of the Island's lifeline was not subject to Tynwald debate. The move, according to the Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan, will secure long-term stability for the service and the Isle of Man. Almost a year on, a further £25million will be spent on a new landing stage at Liverpool's Princes Half Tide Dock as part of the new look of 'People's Packet'. In the March sitting of Tynwald, the Sea Services Agreement made headway as members approved the Heads of Terms which will instruct the Department of Infrastructure to finalise the contract with the Steam Packet by the end of May. Dollin Mercer reflects on the buyout and the subsequent investm

In this episode, we examine a particular bugbear of some politicians and political commentators alike, both past and present – a perceived ‘lack of opposition’ in the parliament of the Isle of Man. Representatives from four Manx political parties will give their views on the functioning of Tynwald, and how government is held to account in the absence of a traditional ‘party politics’ structure, like we might see in the UK. Joining Dollin Mercer in the studio is Leader of the Manx Labour Party David Cretney MLC, Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper of Liberal Vannin, leader of the Isle of Man Green Party Andrew Newton and Mec Vannin Chairman Mark Kermode.

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture is seeking the views of the public as it drafts 'The New Education Bill', legislation which 'seeks to be progressive where possible' whilst striving to match the standards set by the UK and elsewhere.  This consultation seeks to bring the current law from 2001 up to date, taking social media, faith schools, sex education and home schooling, among many other factors, into account. 

In November last year, a motion was tabled in Tynwald asking for a committee to look at whether the Isle of Man could accept refugees, specifically, 25 families from the war-torn country of Syria. In spite of unanimous support in the Legislative Council, 9-0, it failed to gain the approval of both chambers, with 10 for and 11 against in the House Keys. It led to one MHK blaming what he called the 'CoMin block vote'. A group of students at Ballakermeen High School say they were "very disappointed" with the outcome of the debate and feel strongly that issue remains unsettled. The sixth formers, Ciara Sowerby and Shanne Gutierrez, had in fact signed out of school to spend their afternoon in the chamber's public gallery to watch the debate unfold. We speak to them about their plans to get the issue back on the Tynwald agenda. We also interview Claire Bader, a former non-political member on the government's International Development Committee, who has 20 years of experience in humanitarian aid work.

We look at DHSC's anticipated 'overspend' for ‘18/19. Also, "absolutely disgraceful", Dollin Mercer takes a look at the Island's new Integrated Care 'vision', which seems rather similar to Wigan's from five years ago..

Dollin Mercer is joined in the studio by the Health Minister David Ashford and founder of Mother T's community cafe Valerie Miller, to discuss what new legalisation of cannabis could mean for the Isle of Man.