Reaction to Steam Packet offer

The chief minister says the Council of Ministers won't be bounced into accepting an as-yet undefined offer from the Steam Packet, which the company says will help address visitor capacity concerns over TT.

It follows the stated ambition of the new promoter, Vision Nine, to substantially grow TT and Classic TT visitor numbers in the next ten years.

Allan Bell says any new offer must be part of the process to select the best operator for the Irish Sea routes, which is already under way: