There will be a sombre mood in the House of Keys today (Tuesday), the first sitting since the sad news last week of Bill Malarkey’s death.

Whenever possible, Mr Malarkey, who was Home Affairs Minister, defied illness to attend sittings of the Keys and Tynwald, so the sight of his empty chair will carry with it added poignancy.

He served as an MHK in two different stints, between 2006-2011 and from 2015 until now. The fact that in the intervening years he stood successfully for and served upon Douglas Council was evidence of his commitment to public service.

You do not have to agree with a politician to find them likeable and respect them as a person. The warm regard with which he was held by his colleagues was clear and he will be missed.

We should expect some fitting tributes to be paid at today’s sitting.

The world of politics continues to turn and the ordinary agenda for the House of Keys sitting sees a bulky question paper.

Subjects include a call for Chief Minister Howard Quayle to give a statement on his strategy to deal with industrial action in schools, the potential impact of post-Brexit customs checks between the UK and EU, recruitment of foster carers, free television licences for the over-75s, the future of sub-Post Offices, and whether the airport and Sea Terminal could operate a ’sunflower lanyard’ system to signal to staff when passengers have hidden difficulties such as hearing loss or autism.

There is also a long list of written questions, a good number from former health minister Kate Costain (LibVannin, Douglas South), who will ask her successor David Ashford about waiting times and the running of Noble’s Hospital, among other things, while her LibVannin colleague Lawrie Hooper (Ramsey) has questions about health finances.

Rob Callister (Onchan) wants to know what the Isle of Man has in place to check for the coronavirus and how many checks have been carried out in the island.

In terms of legislation, the Registration of Electors Bill - that will amend the law relating the maintenance of electoral registers, we think - makes an appearance for a first reading. It’s so fresh that a digital version had yet to be published on the Tynwald website at the start of the week.

There is a Registration of Electors Bill 2020 on the government’s consultation website - part of a request for feedback on modernising the electoral system - so we expect the official version may bear some resemblance.

Nevertheless, it is probably just as well there is no debate at the first reading stage.

The Bank (Recovery and Resolution) Bill will be debated, however, as it is at the second reading stage. The Treasury Bill aims to create a ’comprehensive legal framework’, in line with international standards, which will allow a failing bank to be either resolved or wound-up without losses falling upon the taxpayer.

The Legislative Council, meanwhile, resumes its careful consideration of the Domestic Abuse Bill, with the clauses stage. The Bill, for the first time, introduces a specific offence of domestic abuse,

And Tim Crookall has a question tabled on whether footpath works in Glen Helen have been completed and how much they cost.