Perspective - Manx Radio

A climate emergency was declared on the Isle of Man in May. In July, Professor James Curran was brought in to lead a team of around twenty – working towards a climate change action plan for the Island. They were set a six month target to construct and present a report. We get an update from Professor Curran, roughly half way through that period, about the work he and his team are doing. Also, we h...

In Tynwald on Tuesday, two separate documents are being presented to the court, loosely covering the topic of poverty: Tynwald's Poverty Committee's own report, and the Council of Ministers' Cold, Hunger and Homelessness Action Plan. Jason Moorhouse from the committee and Minister for Policy and Reform Chris Thomas discuss their findings with Manx Radio's Dollin Mercer.

Some years ago, big promises were made when it came to the film industry. The old adage of 'speculate to accumulate' was banded around by some supporters of heavy investment in media here. Critics argued the proposals lacked some depth. To quote an MHK who would go on to become Treasury Minister, "I am pleading with you to cast off that starry-eyed spell that has been waved over you and start appr...

This week, came what could potentially be some big news for some of the Island's fishing fleet. Specifically, queen scallop fishermen, who are being encouraged to branch out and try to catch some different species. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is inviting queenie catchers to make grant applications towards diversifying, as part of government's 'future fisheries' vision of wh...

Dollin Mercer is joined by the Governor of the Isle of Man Prison, Bob McColm, Minister of Home Affairs Bill Malarkey and Home Affairs Chief Executive Dan Davies to look back on ‘The Best Little Prison in Britain?’ - the ITV series which focussed on the Isle of Man’s only prison. The series was aired in six parts, on Wednesday evenings on ITV1.

In July, Perspective took a look at what's increasingly becoming one of the biggest talking points on our Island. The ongoing refurbishment works along Douglas promenade are estimated to take around two years, and it's thought to be the first major excavation of the capital's highway in 90 years. However, it's estimated the project is already as much as ten weeks behind schedule. Motorists who use...

This week, we're taking another look at the work of Tynwald's Social Affairs Policy Review Committee, after a further public evidence session with a senior figure from the health department. If we rewind back to November last year, the standing committee of Tynwald committed to undertake an inquiry into the topic of suicide on the Isle of Man. The move came as part of its report on mental health h...

This week, we're taking a look back on a crucial oral evidence session which took place on Monday (2 September 2019). If we rewind back to November last year, the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee, a standing committee of Tynwald, committed to undertake an inquiry into the topic of suicide. The move came as part of its report on mental health here. The committee set out to look at: i) The ade...

On #MRPerspective, Dollin Mercer and William King were joined by three figureheads of the trade union movement on the Isle of Man. Live in the studio, we heard from Mick Hewer of Prospect union, and Debbie Halsall of Unite. During the programme, we also heard extracts from an interview with former union head Bernard Moffatt. You can listen to that conversation, in full, here.

Dollin Mercer and William King are joined by three figureheads of the trade union movement on the Isle of Man. Live in the studio, we hear from Mick Hewer of Prospect union, and Debbie Halsall of Unite. We also hear extracts from an interview with former union head Bernard Moffatt.

We hear from students, parents, teachers and officials at the Department of Education, Sport and Culture reflecting on A Level and GCSE results days.

For the past two years in particular, discussions over the potential development of a cruise ship tourism industry have blossomed. Last week, Ellis Brown architects proposed plans for a new deep water cruise berth in Douglas. Earlier this year, Cruise Isle of Man announced a new passenger record for 2019, topping last year's total. Is it time for a fresh debate on cruise tourism on the Island? We...

In March 2018, a panel was formed to review the effectiveness of government's current whistleblowing policy, and any relevant legislation. Whistleblowing is the act of drawing public attention, or the attention of a figure in authority, towards perceived wrongdoing, misconduct, or unethical activity within an organisation. Onchan MHK Julie Edge was appointed to chair this committee, joined by MLCs...

We've seen a summer of success for many sports men and women from across the British Isles, and increased coverage and exposure for many women's sports in particular - which prompted us to take a look at Women in Sport from a Manx perspective. Included in that summer of success, there have been excellent results for many of the people and teams representing the Isle of Man in various disciplines....

We've heard lots over the past few days, weeks and months about Douglas promenade. The ongoing refurbishment works there are estimated to take around two years, and it's thought to be the first major excavation of the capital's highway in 90 years. However, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer says the project is already something like eight or ten weeks behind schedule. Motorists who use the route...

Year 12 students from five of the Island’s secondary schools took part in the initiative - a mock Tynwald sitting which included question time and two motions. The questions asked focused on a range of topics, including on the refugee crisis, environmental issues and mental health. The two schools which moved motions were Ballakermeen High School and Castle Rushen High School. Not only did student...

The 'flourishing' drug trade, lack of police presence at Manx borders, mental health, the prospective gay pardon and much more is discussed in this police special.

Over 3000 respondents took part in the consultation into the medicinal use of the drug with 95% supporting the introduction of cultivation and processing of cannabis on the Island, subject to suitable regulation. Meanwhile, 97% of those who responded to a consultation into the industrial use of the crop, supported the creation of a regulatory framework within which hemp could be produced on the Is...

Following DEFA imposing new restrictions on queen scallop fishing in Manx waters, we hear from fishermen, the Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot, scientists from the university of Bangor and expert Dr David Beard.

Dollin Mercer is joined by: Steve Rodan OBE MLC, President of Tynwald; the Clerk of Tynwald, Roger Phillips; Weather forecaster Neil Young; Culture Vannin; Alex Brindley and Captain Jonathan Palmer-Tomkinson, The 2nd Captain, The Queen’s Company of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards who will be the military presence on Tynwald Day. Tynwald Day takes place on Friday 5th July.

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 Netwo...

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, u...

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, no...

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). Conta...