Manx licensing laws do not apply to cruise liners in our waters according to the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney General.
Onchan MHK Julie Edge asked in this week’s Keys sitting what alcohol and gambling laws applied to cruise ships visiting the island.
Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey told the Keys that while he doesn’t like short questions, ’no Manx licensing laws apply to cruise ships visiting the Isle of Man’.
In a supplementary question, Ms Edge asked ’why not?’ when two separate Acts, the Licensing Act 1995 and Casino Act 1986, both include Manx territorial waters.
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Mr Malarkey said: ’My understanding was at the time we really did not have any cruise liners coming to the island so they were not incorporated within the Act.
’We have double checked with the Attorney General’s office this week and I can reassure her from my answer, Mr Speaker, at present there are no licensing laws applying to cruise ships.
’Of course we are revisiting the whole Licensing Act at the moment and hopefully by the end of this year we will be submitting - well, early in the next year - consultation on the new Acts.’
Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey) tried to assist Mr Malarkey by suggesting there is a ’big difference between cruise liners and other passenger ferries that may be going backwards and forwards to the island’.
Mr Malarkey agreed and said that as cruise liners don’t pick up passengers in the island ’they do not fall under the Act’.
The Onchan MHK told the Keys that the Act only refers to ’passenger vessels’ which ’does apply to cruise ships because they are holding passengers’.
Ms Edge added: ’The aim of this question - and I hope the minister agrees with me - is to ensure that there is no loss of the economic benefit to any businesses on the island.
’But, possibly, could I put a vessel out in the bay this weekend and have a drinks party on it or a casino on it? And you are telling me there would be no licensing law that would apply to me?’
The Minister disagreed and again stated that cruise liners don’t pick up from the island so aren’t included. He also said that a party or casino would see passengers brought from the island and returned to it, meaning they would need to acquire a licence.
Mr Malarkey added: ’Cruise liners do not operate out of any local ports on the island and that is why they do not fall under the Act.
’We have gone to great lengths this week with the Attorney General’s office to have the Act completely scrutinised to make sure that what I am telling you today is absolutely spot on; and that information comes from the Attorney General’s office.’