Four years after a financial scandal collapsed Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive, recommendations to prevent a repeat have not been fully implemented, a report reveals. The Renewable Heat Incentive scandal saw Sinn Féin withdraw from Stormont for three years due to a flawed green energy scheme that allowed individuals to profit by running wood pellet boilers excessively, becoming known as “burn to earn”. Former DUP leader Arlene Foster was the minister in charge during the scheme’s design, leading to political rancor and a public inquiry with 42 recommendations, of which only 26 have been implemented so far. The slow progress has raised concerns at the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO), particularly regarding record keeping issues that obstruct transparency and accountability.
The NIAO’s Head, Dorinnia Carville, expressed worry over the lack of improvement in rebuilding public confidence in the civil service. Despite efforts, several recommendations are still pending, leaving room for potential risks and future scandals. Read the full report for more insights on the ongoing challenges and the need for swift action to prevent similar crises from occurring again.