A period of ’bold change’ lies ahead for the Manx Government, according to Chief Minister Howard Quayle.

In his third state of the nation address, given to Tynwald on Tuesday, he portrayed his government as one that was keen on reform.

’We are in a period of potentially significant and bold change for Isle of Man Government,’ he said.

’The far easiest form of reform is none at all.

’We could have ducked out of these sticky, difficult topics, which are easier not to tackle, to push aside for a future administration.’

Mr Quayle added: ’At the end of this administration, I want to be certain that we did not shy away from difficult issues or reform, no matter how painful, if it is the right decision.’

Changes that lie ahead include rates reform and the transformation of health and care services, along with the issue of climate change.

With an eye on the international scene, Mr Quayle warned: ’There is no doubt that we are entering uncharted waters in the coming 12 months.

Ambitious

’While we have been successful as an island, we cannot underestimate what difficulties we may face.’

During his 18-minute speech, Mr Quayle referred to the ’ambitious and heavy’ legislative programme in which the government aims to power through and introduce 33 bills for consideration during the 2019/20 parliamentary year - more than double the usual amount.

This provoked some warnings from Tynwald members not to lose sight that quality was more important than quantity.

Earlier in his address he said the administration, which he has led since 2016, had had its ’fair share of significant achievement and challenges’.

Mr Quayle, who also touched on negotiations on a new gas regulatory arrangement, said the government had continued with its ’ambitious domestic agenda’ in spite of the extra work involved in preparing for Brexit - but this prompted some scepticism from some Tynwald members.

Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) said: ’I can point to a raft of items where this court has been told that delays are as a result of the Brexit workload.’

He asked whether this ’renewed commitment to the domestic agenda means that we will no longer be hearing "it is delayed because of Brexit workloads" as an excuse or an explanation from government departments’.

Govt programme

Mr Quayle insisted that the ’vast majority’ of the government programme had continued despite Brexit.

Julie Edge (Onchan) picked up on a comment by Mr Quayle that social isolation and mental health issues were a ’ticking time bomb’.

She said: ’A ticking timebomb normally means that something is going to happen at a later date - this isn’t a ticking timebomb it is something that is happening here and now, today, and we need to be addressing it sooner.’

Mr Quayle said the reference was to concerns that a growing lack of personal interaction among the younger generation, along with increasing isolation among the elderly, could cause an even greater problem down the line. This would be looked at by a committee, to be chaired by Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey), which would into ’community and public engagement’ in a bid to find potential solutions.