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Report can be used as lever for change

The chairman of a local transport lobby group says the Steam Packet report is a good start, but much more still needs to be done.

Brendan O'Friel of TravelWatch says there is now more information about the ferry company in the public arena, and hopes people will use it to become more informed and push for change.

One of the main points he highlighted on Manx Radio today was the apparent lack of justification by the company for its high freight charges.

Mr O'Friel (pictured) said:

"This is where the justice issue comes in.

"It's fine for a commercial company to make a decent profit and to have stability and a decent future, and I'm all in favour of that.

"But when people read the extent of the profits that have now been revealed, that the Steam Packet have made, you do have to ask in all justice, when there are firms out there struggling, when there are individuals struggling, because of the costs of shipping on and off the Island, is this justice?"

Onchan MHK Peter Karran says it's the government which is at fault.

He told Manx Radio:

"The government is there to create the environment so that commerce flourishes, and when we give preferential treatment, like with the (Steam Packet's) User Agreement, there has to be checks and balances on that situation.

"There isn't, (and) that's the problem."

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