Civil Servants Raising Concerns
RHI Inquiry · The Report of the Independent Public Inquiry into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme · Issued 13 March 2020 · Addressed to: Northern Ireland Executive
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
Civil servants should be encouraged not to feel in any way inhibited about disclosing possible or emerging problems, raising concerns, negative aspects or adverse criticisms of a project as necessary to ensure that decisions are properly informed.
RHI Inquiry, The Report of the Independent Public Inquiry into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme · 13 Mar 2020 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- The NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024) assessed this recommendation as Implemented, stating that civil servants were encouraged to raise concerns through the revised NICS Code of Ethics, whistleblowing arrangements, and Raising a Concern Policy Framework (NIAO Second Progress Report, October 2024).
Response — verbatim from government
●Northern Ireland Executive
[Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been partially addressed through: the revision of the NICS Code of Ethics; the GIAFIS review of whistleblowing; the Leadership Development training for senior officials. Further work is required to: implement the remaining recommendations of the GIAFIS review; Launch and promote the revised NICS Code of Ethics; develop an encompassing 'Raising Concerns' policy informed by the NIAO Good Practice Guide; Provide appropriate guidance to managers, staff and the public about addressing concerns in the NICS; endorse a culture of curiosity and challenge; enhance the role of Departmental Boards, including the role of NEDs and Ministers, and review the remit and agenda of Boards.
Northern Ireland Executive · 7 Oct 2021 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 15 Oct 2024 NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024): Implemented. Civil servants encouraged to raise concerns through revised NICS Code of Ethics, whistleblowing arrangements, and Raising a Concern Policy Framework. Source →
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.