The Road Transport Licensing Committee has delayed hearing any applications for new taxi licences.

Last month it was announced the committee was to overturn a moratorium on issuing new taxi licences, as it was worried applicants who had been waiting for years for their cases to be heard could launch legal challenges on the grounds of undue delay.

But, at its January sitting, Tynwald made it clear such a move should be delayed and secretary to the RTLC Brian Leece says that has now been agreed.

He says it will give the Department of Transport a chance to report back on its consultation on the matter, next month.

He told Manx Radio:

"My committee sat to reconsider their position and decided to acknowledge the opinion expressed by Tynwald, and delay the hearing until after the department has reported back in March.

"The committee is in a very difficult position with regard to the hearing of applications because they have a legal obligation and duty under the act to hear the applications and yet Tynwald have expressed an opinion that they should not hear the applications.

"It puts the committee in a very difficult position, so I would hope it's sorted out as soon as possible."