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RHI-35

Early Warning Systems

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

Government responseNorthern Ireland Executive: Accepted (Oct 2021)

DeliveryDepartment of Finance says in progress (Mar 2024)

Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry

●Inquiry recommendation

Better systems are needed for spotting early warnings and concerns from the public and businesses that something unexpected could be happening or going wrong with an initiative. Simply updating existing complaints and whistle-blowing policies, although helpful, will not be sufficient, since relevant intelligence often does not come through these routes. The default response amongst officials should be one of curiosity rather than assuming the concern is misplaced. We recommend that all Northern Ireland Departments review their processes for obtaining, handling and responding to information from multiple routes, to ensure that they have robust systems to pick up early warnings and repeated signals, as well as evidence that a policy is working as intended. Consideration should be given, in appropriate cases, to encouraging relevant officials to investigate the implementation and operation of a scheme in practice.

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

AI-generated evidence summary

The Department of Finance reported in March 2024 that work remained in progress, following the rollout of a Raising Concerns policy framework, the appointment of Speak Up Champions, and ongoing training for designated officers (Department of Finance, Mar 2024). It noted that handling concerns would include fact-finding and investigation, alongside an internal audit review due to report to the civil service board in May 2024 (Department of Finance, Mar 2024). In October 2024, the Northern Ireland Audit Office found that the recommendation had been implemented (Northern Ireland Audit Office, Oct 2024).

AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026.

About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record above reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.

Government response

●Northern Ireland Executive · Accepted · 7 Oct 2021

Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 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.

Response document: Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan: Annex A Summary of Recommendations and Response

Site note: These are the Northern Ireland Executive's words from Annex A, "Summary of Recommendations and Response", published on this page with the Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan on 7 October 2021, the day the Executive agreed it. The Department of Finance publishes the response, but it is the Executive's, so the site records it under the Executive. The annex is a PDF that the publisher asks automated readers not to fetch, so the site cites the page that links it.

Site note: Annex A gives this passage once, for the recommendations under its heading "RAISING CONCERNS": recommendations 32b, 34, 35 and 36. It is the Executive's response to the group, not to this recommendation alone.

Delivery

●Department of Finance says in progress · 14 Mar 2024

Launch of the RaC policy framework on 25 January 2023, including nomination of designated officers as Speak Up Champions; and reporting to Boards including the NICS Board .

Initial training for Designated Officers and their operational teams has been provided from May 2023, and the Designated Officers’ Forum is the venue for continuous professional development.

Handling of concerns will always include appropriate fact-finding and/or investigation.

The NICS Internal Audit Service has conducted a thematic review of the implementation of the policy framework and will report to the NICS Board in May 2024.

Launch of the RaC policy framework on 25 January 2023, including nomination of designated officers as Speak Up Champions; and reporting to Boards including the NICS Board Initial training for Designated Officers and their operational teams has been provided from May 2023, and the Designated Officers’ Forum is the venue for continuous professional development The monitoring and evaluation of policy interventions is included in the practice of the policy function, as set out in Making a Difference.

From: Implementation of the Recommendations of the RHI Inquiry (publication page for three documents)

Site note: This page publishes three monitoring tables: the Department of Finance's of 1 September 2023 and 14 March 2024, and the Executive's table of 19 February 2025 of commitments on the remaining recommendations. None of the three lists every recommendation. The row carries the table's own cell for this recommendation: the "Updates" column, or where that is empty in 2023 the "Status of further work" column, and in 2025 the "Commitment" column. The tables are PDFs that the publisher asks automated readers not to fetch, so the site cites the page that links them.

Earlier statements on delivery (0)

●Department of Finance · 1 Sep 2023

The monitoring and evaluation of policy interventions is included in the practice of the policy function, as set out in Making a Difference.

From: Implementation of the Recommendations of the RHI Inquiry (publication page for three documents)

Site note: This page publishes three monitoring tables: the Department of Finance's of 1 September 2023 and 14 March 2024, and the Executive's table of 19 February 2025 of commitments on the remaining recommendations. None of the three lists every recommendation. The row carries the table's own cell for this recommendation: the "Updates" column, or where that is empty in 2023 the "Status of further work" column, and in 2025 the "Commitment" column. The tables are PDFs that the publisher asks automated readers not to fetch, so the site cites the page that links them.

What other bodies have found

In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.

●NI Audit Office · 15 Oct 2024

Implemented.

From: Northern Ireland Non-Domestic RHI Scheme: Progressing implementation of the Public Inquiry recommendations - 2nd Report (Appendix 4)

Site note: This is the Northern Ireland Audit Office's assessment, from Appendix 4 of its second report on the Inquiry's recommendations (15 October 2024), the column "2024 NIAO Assessment". The Audit Office monitors implementation at the Inquiry's request; its assessment is shown beside the Executive's own account and does not set the recommendation's status.

Site note: The report assesses this recommendation in 3 parts and gives no assessment of the whole; the row carries its assessment of the first part.

How this page is built

The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.