Government will be able to issue permits to drivers for dangerous goods vehicles if there is a shortage of those qualified to deliver key resources.

Tynwald ratified an emergency power to allow goods such as petrol and oxygen tankers to be transported by people who have not gained the usually-required certificates.

Under regulation (8) of the Road Vehicles carrying Dangerous Goods (Construction and Use) Regulations 2008, a person, when driving a dangerous goods vehicle, must carry a certificate issued by the DoI or by a corresponding authority stating that the driver has participated in training courses and has passed the required tests.

Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford said: ’We cannot afford to end up in the situation where critical goods cannot be moved on the island’s roads without breaking the law because nobody with that training is available to drive the vehicles.’

Under the Emergency Powers Act, DoI chief executive Nick Black will be able to issue an exemption to allow people to drive the vehicles if the load they carry is considered ’vital’ to the island’s infrastructure.

Mr Ashford added: ’Of course, this exemption power does have to exercised with a great deal of care to ensure that any increased risk is kept to the absolute minimum.’

Following questions from Kate Costain (Lib Vannin, Douglas South) and Speaker Juan Watterson, Mr Ashford said that the exemptions could be brought into use if, for example, the dangerous goods needed were unable to be moved due to a lack of drivers with the required certificates.

The exemptions remain in place for as long as the Proclamation of Emergency dated March 16 is in operation. It can only be ended by a vote in Tynwald.