Agenda - Manx Radio Manx Radio

In Tynwald last week Onchan MHK Rob Callister asked his colleagues to reaffirm a 2017 Tynwald decision relating to the role LegCo members should fulfil and in particular that they should not be a member of more than one government department. The government website tells us that one MLC is a member of two departments and since last month’s reshuffle there may be two, but does any of this really matter? As is often the case there were mixed views in Tynwald and we hear some of them on Agenda. Should MLCs make decisions on government policy bearing in mind their at best tenuous mandate from the people?

John Sheppard is a Sustainability Consultant and Technical director of Wren Sustainable Limited. He believes that government initiatives to help households become more sustainable are “a joke” and he tells us why on Agenda. While government has legislation requiring it to deliver on carbon reduction targets, it seems that legislation is limited on requiring government agencies to help people reduce their energy needs. It certainly makes financial sense for us all to better insulate our homes and reduce energy bills so why aren’t more of us doing this? Is there real substance behind the government green wash?

On Agenda last week Tynwald Youth Select Committee members Zara Molnova, Aidan Clarke and Alex Cowley told us about the work of their Committee. This week these sixth form students talk about their political aspirations and run rings round me in a discussion about the perils and opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence. As someone who’s political thinking inhabits the margins of the Tynwald/CoMin bubble I found it encouraging to be challenged by their fresh ideas and inciteful comment. Well worth a listen as you’re getting your tea later.

Very occasionally when conducting interviews Phil Gawne is particularly impressed by the refreshing honestly and clarity of my guests. The Youth Select Committee was established by Tynwald to give a voice to students and Castle Rushen High School students Zara Molnova and Aidan Clarke, and Chair of the Select Committee Alex Cowley from St Ninians High School join Phil Gawne on Agenda. In the first of what will be a two part interview they tell me about their role and how they intend to help Tynwald solve the Island’s housing crisis. Honest, straight talking  and passionate about politics - certainly a breath of fresh air on this week’s Agenda.

An Agenda of two halves this week with Paul Craine MLC assessing the latest population figures and MLC and Children’s Champion Kerry Sharp assessing the recently announced Ballakermeen toilet policy and how children’s rights have changed over the decades. Government has set its sights on growing the economically active population and the latest figures seem to suggest they are beginning to succeed. And the toilet policy has certainly attracted a lot of interest with vociferous argument for and against so good to have a philosophical reflection on the topic. Well worth crossing your legs and holding on for!

At a meeting last week more than a hundred people heard from Canadian campaigner, Alex Schadenberg, Chair of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and Dr Duncan Gerry consultant geriatrician. Both spoke with passion and expressed deep concern about Alex Allinson’s attempt to introduce Assisted Dying in the Isle of Man. So are the safeguards in the Assisted Dying Bill strong enough? We hear the views of those concerned about the new Bill on Agenda. There’s no doubt that the Bill will have a dramatic impact on end of life care in the Isle of Man. Should we be worried about that?