Recommendation RHI-18: Inter-Governmental Framework
From The Report of the Independent Public Inquiry into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, published 13 March 2020.
Recommendation
More generally, we recommend a Northern Ireland government-wide framework for information exchange and, where appropriate, co-operation between the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Whitehall Departments and (where relevant) Departments of other devolved Governments and of the Government of the Republic of Ireland.
In brief (written by this site)
The Department of Finance reported in March 2024 that work remained in progress, recording that guidance for policy teams on collaboration with neighbouring jurisdictions had launched in September 2023 (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). The department noted that interjurisdictional collaboration would also be taken forward as part of wider efforts to develop collaborative practices across the civil service and with external partners (Department of Finance, Mar 2024).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
These recommendations can be accepted in full.
They have been addressed in work to date through:
• initial steps to establish a project delivery profession which will, once in place, take forward the recommended programme of professional development;
• the introduction of a Learning and Development Framework for the NICS Economist Profession;
• the development and issuing of a new protocol for engaging with HMT.
Further work is required to
• complete the establishment of the Project Delivery profession, including the appointment of a Head of Profession;
• deliver the strategy under development for the NICS finance profession;
• establish a framework for engagement between the neighbouring administrations.
How this response relates to the recommendation
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 "COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION": recommendations 17 and 18. It is the Executive's response to the group, not to this recommendation alone.
Delivery
Department of Finance says in progress (14 March 2024)
Work on interjurisdictional collaboration has been included in the work for the Policy Community, following completion of Making a Difference; the NICS Guide to Making Policy that Works.
It will also be taken forward as part of the wider work to develop collaborative practices within NICS, with ALBs, and with private-sector and community/voluntary-sector partners.
Information exchange and cooperation between policy teams in NI Departments and their counterparts in other administrations is extensive and there are many examples of good practice.
Guidance to policy teams on collaboration with neighbouring jurisdictions, in the form of extension material from Making a Difference, and drawing primarily upon the experience of colleagues, was launched in September 2023
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 statement on delivery (1)
Department of Finance (1 September 2023)
Information exchange and cooperation between policy teams in NI Departments and their counterparts in other administrations is extensive and there are many examples of good practice. The development of guidance to policy teams initiating and developing those relationships will draw primarily upon the experience and insight of colleagues
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 October 2024)
Implemented.
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.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Northern Ireland Executive
Response - Department of Finance
Delivery statement - NI Audit Office
Finding