Flood of negative references hurts, says Manx group

The regular references to the Isle of Man at the Flood tribunal are injuring the island's reputation, according to a Celtic group based there.

The voluntary Celtic League has written to the Manx government, asking what it is doing about "the constant stream of revelations" linking the Isle of Man with corruption inquiries in Ireland.

The negative references to the Isle of Man are not confined to the Flood tribunal, according to Mr Bernard Moffatt, secretary of the group, which fosters contacts between countries with Celtic links.

"There are various court cases as well and the issues have been raised politically in the Dáil," he said. "Every time it is raised, it is generally injurious to the reputation of the island."

Several witnesses at the Flood tribunal have referred to bank accounts in the Isle of Man, and the Manx people were aware of these references, he said.

"It wouldn't be too bad if the references at the tribunal were an occasional thing but, if you forgive the pun, there has been a complete flood of them."

Mr Moffatt has written to the Treasury Minister, Mr Alan Bell, asking if there has been a detailed analysis of these references and if the government has planned to take any action.

"He is our new treasury minister and is very anxious that the island's reputation is squeaky clean," Mr Moffatt said.

While the Isle of Man had been used in the past by Irish people wishing to avoid tax or hide money, the island must behave as a good neighbour to Ireland, Mr Moffatt said.

If money for vital services in Ireland was in Isle of Man accounts, that did not equate with good neighbourliness.