It will take "as long it takes" to resolve the long-standing issue of whether to deregulate the taxi trade in the Isle of Man.

That's the view of a member of the group appointed by the chief minister to come up with recommendations for a way forward.

David Callister, MLC, says there have been problems with the taxi trade for 20 years, and as the industry has evolved so more issues have come to the fore.

The group has come up with a number of recommendations, including a proposal to combine private hire with ply for hire, as many people don't understand the difference between the two.

Tynwald has agreed such matters need to go out to further consultation, with the group due to report back by June this year.

However, Mr Callister thinks that time scale may be unrealistic.

He told Manx Radio:

"If we can get back by June [we will], but bear in mind you've got Easter in the meantime [and] you've got TT fortnight. I think we will get back as fast as we can.

"Consultation takes quite a long time and especially if you have to have face to face interviews with people, and we had a lot of those in the first study.

"It takes a great deal of time."