PhilGawne.im - Phil Gawne, MHK for Rushen

Minister quizzed by Tynwald Environment and Infrastructure Committee
Minister quizzed by Tynwald Environment and Infrastructure Committee on wide range of his Department’s policies. To read the Hansard - Click here

Phil welcomes important measure to protect the world’s poorest countries from vulture funds!
Legislation to prevent the Isle of Man being used by ‘vulture funds’ to exploit the debts of some of the world’s poorest countries has this week received Royal Assent.
The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (Limitation on Debt Recovery) Act 2012 outlaws a practice that undermines international debt relief efforts. The legislation prevents vulture funds from buying up poor nations’ debts for a fraction of their original amount and then using the courts to sue for the full value, plus interest and penalty charges.
For more info - Click here

Phil welcomes important step forward in ensuring IoM tax matters are transparent
The Isle of Man Government has confirmed that it will be adopting tax information sharing arrangements with the United Kingdom which will follow closely the FATCA inter-governmental agreement currently being negotiated with the United States.
For more info - Click here

Phil applauds efforts of Social Care Department in consulting on the future
To read the report - Click here

The latest Agri-News
Articles include good news for the future of IOM Meats, dealing with 2012’s wet summer and the re-opening of FHIS - Click here
Additional articles on the Winter meeting programme, Wages Board and Readers Survey can be found here.

Tynwald Members’ pay and pensions
This report marks a significant movement away from Members setting their own pay. To view the report - Click here, and Click here

Phil welcomes debate on social care policies
To view the minister’s presentation - Click here

Treasury Minister's presentation at Port Erin meeting
Co-Min is running community meetings around the Island. To view the presentation given by the Treasury Minister in Port Erin - Click here

Phil welcomes swift action & cooperation of Social Care Department in re-opening Surby Ward at Southlands
The Department of Social Care has announced that as part of its programme of rebalancing adult services the first residents have moved into to the newly opened Surby Unit in Southlands Resource Centre.
To read more - Click here

Key issues to be discussed at next community meeting
CHIEF Minister Allan Bell MHK says he is looking forward to another lively public debate at the next community meeting to be hosted by the Council of Ministers.
The event takes place at the Erin Arts Centre on Tuesday, October 23, and will provide a further opportunity for Island residents to engage with Ministers on matters of national importance.
To read more - Click here

Minister Confirms Queenie Fishery Closure
Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, has today confirmed the closure of the Isle of Man Queenie Fishery, with effect from 4th September.
To read more - Click here

Isle of Man funding helping to create a sustainable
future for Kenyan farming communities
An aid project funded by the Isle of Man Government is using an ancient technology to help hundreds of Kenyan farmers lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.
To read more - Click here

Island signs up to Rio Convention
The Isle of Man will be included in the UK’s ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity on Monday August 6th.
'This is a major milestone for our outstanding natural heritage', said DEFA Minister, Phil Gawne. 'This is important for the future of the land and marine ecosystems on which we depend. The natural world provides us with seafood, fertile soil, freshwater, cultural inspiration for the arts, places for recreation and enjoyment, coastal protection, pest control and other services worth many millions of pounds a year.'

DEFA HQ wins top environmental award
The Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture’s (DEFA) headquarters in St John’s has won the top prize at one of Europe’s most prestigious environmental awards. The 2012 Green Apple Built Environment and Architectural Heritage Awards are the leading international awards honouring excellence in sustainable construction, design and innovation of products and architectural preservation.
To read more - click here

Phil attends high level summit
The Chief Minister and Phil Gawne attend British-Irish Council Summit to consider collaborative working on marine renewable energy.
To read more - click here

Milner’s Tower to be Renovated
One of the most conspicuous landmarks in the South of the Island is to be refurbished. Milner’s Tower will be closed to visitors for the period of refurbishment which will start at the end of June 2012 and will last for around 10 weeks, weather permitting.
To read more - click here

I Love Manx Chef of the Year competition launched
The I Love Manx campaign launched the 2012 “Chef of the Year” competition at Orrisdale Farm, Ballasalla.
Entrants will be asked to cook in front of a live audience and judges in the Manx Food Theatre at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show on Friday 10th August at 3pm.
Competition details and entry forms can be obtained from www.gov.im./defa or www.ilovemanx.org

OAC members meet Baroness Cox
Members of the Isle of Man Government’s Overseas Aid Committee today (Friday, May 4) gained a personal insight into the work of one of the UK’s leading humanitarians and human rights campaigners.
To read more - click here

Community Partnerships
Phil is pleased to support the work of Southern Befrienders and Men in Sheds. Hesaid, 'As Chair of the recently formed Southern Community Initiative I am working to develop many more projects like this to support the vulnerable members of our society.'
To watch a short information video - click here

Photograph: Christopher Thomond for
the Guardian

Isle of Man scallop fishers test the waters at marine reserve
Conservationists and crews measure the impact of 'responsible fishing' in pioneering protected habitat in Ramsey bay. Article from The Guardian about Manx marine reserves. To read more - click here

Positive economic performance for Isle of Man despite global gloom
The diversification of the Isle of Man’s economy is continuing to provide great resilience in the face of challenging international conditions. Emerging sectors, including e-gaming and aerospace engineering, enjoyed significant growth during 2011 to bolster the contribution made by more traditional industries, according to the latest Quarterly Economic Report to the Council of Ministers. For more info - click here

MHKs for Rushen after the 2011 election:
Juan Watterson, Laurence Skelly and Phil Gawne

For Phil's 2011 election manifesto - click here

For Phil's election leaflet 2011 - click here

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Failt erriu - Welcome - Phil Gawne is MHK for Rushen & Minister of Environment, Food and Agriculture
Minister quizzed by Tynwald Environment and Infrastructure Committee Minister quizzed by Tynwald Environment and Infrastructure Committee on wide range of his Department’s policies. To read the Hansard - Click here Phil welcomes important measure to protect the world’s poorest countries from vulture funds! Legislation to prevent the Isle of Man being used by ‘vulture funds’ to exploit the debts of some of the world’s poorest countries has this week received Royal Assent. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (Limitation on Debt Recovery) Act 2012 outlaws a practice that undermines international debt relief efforts. The legislation prevents vulture funds from buying up poor nations’ debts for a fraction of their original amount and then using the courts to sue for the full value, plus interest and penalty charges. For more info - Click here Phil welcomes important step forward in ensuring IoM tax matters are transparent The Isle of Man Government has confirmed that it will be adopting tax information sharing arrangements with the United Kingdom which will follow closely the FATCA inter-governmental agreement currently being negotiated with the United States. For more info - Click here Phil applauds efforts of Social Care Department in consulting on the future To read the report - Click here The latest Agri-News Articles include good news for the future of IOM Meats, dealing with 2012’s wet summer and the re-opening of FHIS - Click here Additional articles on the Winter meeting programme, Wages Board and Readers Survey can be found here. Tynwald Members’ pay and pensions This report marks a significant movement away from Members setting their own pay. To view the report - Click here, and Click here Phil welcomes debate on social care policies To view the minister’s presentation - Click here Treasury Minister's presentation at Port Erin meeting Co-Min is running community meetings around the Island. To view the presentation given by the Treasury Minister in Port Erin - Click here Phil welcomes swift action & cooperation of Social Care Department in re-opening Surby Ward at Southlands The Department of Social Care has announced that as part of its programme of rebalancing adult services the first residents have moved into to the newly opened Surby Unit in Southlands Resource Centre. To read more - Click here Key issues to be discussed at next community meeting CHIEF Minister Allan Bell MHK says he is looking forward to another lively public debate at the next community meeting to be hosted by the Council of Ministers. The event takes place at the Erin Arts Centre on Tuesday, October 23, and will provide a further opportunity for Island residents to engage with Ministers on matters of national importance. To read more - Click here Minister Confirms Queenie Fishery Closure Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, has today confirmed the closure of the Isle of Man Queenie Fishery, with effect from 4th September. To read more - Click here Isle of Man funding helping to create a sustainable future for Kenyan farming communities An aid project funded by the Isle of Man Government is using an ancient technology to help hundreds of Kenyan farmers lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. To read more - Click here Island signs up to Rio Convention The Isle of Man will be included in the UK’s ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity on Monday August 6th. 'This is a major milestone for our outstanding natural heritage', said DEFA Minister, Phil Gawne. 'This is important for the future of the land and marine ecosystems on which we depend. The natural world provides us with seafood, fertile soil, freshwater, cultural inspiration for the arts, places for recreation and enjoyment, coastal protection, pest control and other services worth many millions of pounds a year.' DEFA HQ wins top environmental award The Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture’s (DEFA) headquarters in St John’s has won the top prize at one of Europe’s most prestigious environmental awards. The 2012 Green Apple Built Environment and Architectural Heritage Awards are the leading international awards honouring excellence in sustainable construction, design and innovation of products and architectural preservation. To read more - click here Phil attends high level summit The Chief Minister and Phil Gawne attend British-Irish Council Summit to consider collaborative working on marine renewable energy. To read more - click here Milner’s Tower to be Renovated One of the most conspicuous landmarks in the South of the Island is to be refurbished. Milner’s Tower will be closed to visitors for the period of refurbishment which will start at the end of June 2012 and will last for around 10 weeks, weather permitting. To read more - click here I Love Manx Chef of the Year competition launched The I Love Manx campaign launched the 2012 “Chef of the Year” competition at Orrisdale Farm, Ballasalla. Entrants will be asked to cook in front of a live audience and judges in the Manx Food Theatre at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show on Friday 10th August at 3pm. Competition details and entry forms can be obtained from www.gov.im./defa or www.ilovemanx.org OAC members meet Baroness Cox Members of the Isle of Man Government’s Overseas Aid Committee today (Friday, May 4) gained a personal insight into the work of one of the UK’s leading humanitarians and human rights campaigners. To read more - click here Community Partnerships Phil is pleased to support the work of Southern Befrienders and Men in Sheds. Hesaid, 'As Chair of the recently formed Southern Community Initiative I am working to develop many more projects like this to support the vulnerable members of our society.' To watch a short information video - click here Isle of Man scallop fishers test the waters at marine reserve Conservationists and crews measure the impact of 'responsible fishing' in pioneering protected habitat in Ramsey bay. Article from The Guardian about Manx marine reserves. To read more - click here Positive economic performance for Isle of Man despite global gloom The diversification of the Isle of Man’s economy is continuing to provide great resilience in the face of challenging international conditions. Emerging sectors, including e-gaming and aerospace engineering, enjoyed significant growth during 2011 to bolster the contribution made by more traditional industries, according to the latest Quarterly Economic Report to the Council of Ministers. For more info - click here MHKs for Rushen after the 2011 election: Juan Watterson, Laurence Skelly and Phil Gawne For Phil's 2011 election manifesto - click here For Phil's election leaflet 2011 - click here