Consultations

Consultations give you an opportunity to have your say on new proposals from the Isle of Man Government, so that your views can be taken into account.

Consultation is essential for two-way communication between the Isle of Man Government and the public. It supports the principles of openness and community focus endorsed by Government and Tynwald.

Why do we consult?

Consultation helps us to understand how a change in law or policy might affect you. It helps us to find out your views and lets us know about any ideas or suggestions you may have. We consult because your input helps shape our work to inform the development of policy, projects and legislation.

How do we consult?

Government is responsible for a wide range of functions and services, so there are many varied types of consultation. A range of consultation methods offer opportunities for people to share their views. These can include:

• written papers for comment
• questionnaires
• focus groups
• public meetings

All Departments, Boards and Offices of the Government will advertise their consultations on the web at www.gov.im/consultations with a clear start and end date. Most are about 12 weeks, although this can depend on the topic being consulted on. The standard guidelines are contained in the Code of Practice on Consultations, which is currently under review.

What happens after a consultation closes?

The views and suggestions detailed in consultation responses are analysed and used as part of the decision-making process. Information on completed consultations is also available on the website and we will publish a summary of responses, or the individual responses themselves, on our website (these are made anonymous when requested).