The Manx government should clarify the position with the UK before introducing identity checks on sea services.
Speaker Steve Rodan suggested it would ‘save any embarrassment’ if the move was subsequently blocked by Westminster.
Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson has announced he intends to consult the public over the ID proposal, which aims to deter criminals from travelling here to commit offences.
The Chamber of Commerce has expressed concerns about the measure, suggesting you ‘don’t need a sledgehammer to crack a nut’.
In Tynwald, the Speaker asked what recent discussions there have been with the UK authorities regarding the introduction of passport or identity checks.
The Chief Minister replied there had been no such talks.
He pointed out: ‘The Isle of Man is not a sovereign state and therefore is governed by the immigration rules in the UK.
‘We have to respect that and I am sure equally the UK authorities will respect any views that the Isle of Man put forward. But again, it is premature at this stage to make any statement on this.’
Mr Rodan said that was ‘absolutely no point’ in having a public consultation unless it was confirmed the UK would endorse a decision by the island to bring in ID checks.
Mr Bell said that Jersey has the ability to carry out checks on people leaving the Channel island and the UK authorities have no problem with that.
He said: ‘No decision has been made on this yet. It’s very early days. It’s something that needs a degree of consideration.’
Juan Turner MLC said leisure craft and fishing vessels would have to be included and the measure would cost a lot of money and not solve anything. ‘This isn’t the utopia people might think it is,’ he said.
Mr Bell agreed. He insisted it was a not a big issues adding: ‘I think we need to calm down a bit.’
He said a number of airlines check ID and so the only point was whether that should be extended to shipping. He said it may be worthwhile considering even if at the end it was rejected.
Mr Rodan accepted it was early days but said it would still be a good idea to make absolutely such the UK would not block that policy and ‘save a lot of future potential embarrassment’.
The idea of getting ferry passengers to show proof of identity came as police confirmed a 9 per cent increase in recorded crime.
That increase included the unprecedented spate of domestic burglaries earlier this year. Police believe the offenders, who remain at large, travelled extensively to and from the island and are thought responsible for similar offences in the UK.