A move to give Tynwald the final say on major onshore and offshore wind turbine developments is being brought forward this week.
It’ll be brought by Kate Lord Brennan MHK, who says the island must “close a growing democratic gap” around major infrastructure decisions.
The Glenfaba & Peel member is proposing an amendment to Item 11 of this month’s order paper that would establish a clear principle: no large‑scale wind turbine project should proceed without an explicit vote of Tynwald, even if it has already secured approval from DEFA or the Council of Ministers under existing law.
Demand Direct Scrutiny
Ms Lord Brennan argues that the scale, permanence and uncertainty surrounding current and future proposals demand direct parliamentary scrutiny.
“There is a clear public interest in ensuring that Tynwald itself has the opportunity to consider and determine such matters,” she said, adding that many members of the public believe the projects are “too big” not to receive a political vote.
Ms Lord Brennan highlighted that the background to offshore proposals stretches back more than a decade, to a 2015 lease agreement and legislation passed “with little debate”, leaving today’s Tynwald and the public “caught up in something instigated over 10 years ago, with no policy reference and opaque information.”
She said the current process, which will not return to Tynwald until after an inspectors’ report and after the next election, leaves elected members with less involvement than the public expects.
She also questioned the appropriateness of a future system where the Council of Ministers acts in a largely depoliticised, planning style role on nationally significant offshore infrastructure, saying this is “severely disconnected from public will” without a marine spatial plan or clear policy framework.
The amendment, she said, is not about opposing renewable energy but about ensuring democratic oversight, transparency and accountability for decisions that will shape the island for generations.
The draft amendment is published on the Tynwald Register of Business and is expected to be considered during this week’s sitting.
