The government is ’all about doing, not talking’, according to Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas.

The minister made the remark during a Tynwald discussion on the Year of Our Island campaign.

Question time had not even finished before the first references to his comment were made by other members wanting the government to act more quickly on certain matters.

Bill Shimmins (Middle) had asked Mr Thomas how the government would demonstrate it was meeting its objectives during the year and whether it would report back regularly.

Mr Thomas said: ’This government is all about doing, not about talking, not about reporting on what we have done.’

But, the minister said, progress would be included in the quarterly updates on the Programme for Government.

The Year of Our Island, for 2018, was announced last week and will see a series of themed events celebrating the Isle of Man as a ’special place to live and work’.

Mr Thomas said the aim was to ’bring together existing and new events and activities to help more people understand what makes our island so special and encourage people to explore more, do more, get involved more, and share more’.

He said there were five main objectives:

â?¢ Increase the number of positive stories and increase ’advocacy of the Isle of Man as a special place to live and work, which would also be a good place to visit’.

â?¢ Increase activity and improve the health and wellbeing of our island residents through increased use of the natural and built environment, increased involvement in community events and increased engagement with arts, culture and heritage.

â?¢ To increase participation in local events.

â?¢ To increase the number of people perceiving the island as a good place to live and work, resulting in a growth in the economically active population and ’investment by people in themselves, their homes and their island’.

â?¢ Increase the level of volunteering, which ’can reduce isolation and loneliness, build confidence and develop skills for people whilst contributing to the quality of life and the built and natural environment here’.

He added: ’Our special year begins with a dark skies event on January 19, encouraging everyone to step outside and appreciate the visibility of the night sky wherever they are.’

The minister promised it was ’going to be a cracking good year’, before adding - with his tongue definitely in his cheek, this time: ’Even more cracking than this answer.’