The President of Tynwald, the Hon Clare Christian, has welcomed His Excellency Mr Dominik Furgler, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Kingdom, to Tynwald.

His Excellency was joined by his wife, Mrs Hayam Furgler and Ms Rebekka Benesch, First Secretary for Financial and Fiscal Affairs on a two-day visit which built on the signing of a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) between the Isle of Man and Switzerland in August 2013.

The President said: ‘It was a pleasure to welcome His Excellency the Ambassador, Mrs Furgler and Ms Rebekka Benesch to the Tynwald precincts. They were very interested in the parliamentary structure of Tynwald and the retention and development of its autonomy over the centuries, which has led to the present-day situation where the Court can endorse international agreements such as the TIEA signed with Switzerland.  Comparison with the Swiss parliamentary system, where consensus is also very important, made for interesting points of discussion. Though from a very beautiful part of the world His Excellency was full of praise for the island’s landscape and expressed the hope that he and Mrs Furgler might make a return visit. We would, of course, be delighted to welcome them back.’

Photo shows the President of Tynwald, the Hon Clare Christian, with His Excellency Mr Dominik Furgler, his wife, Mrs Hayam Furgler and First Secretary for Financial and Fiscal Affairs Ms Rebekka Benesch. (Photo Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal).