Over three years since the Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed under the weight of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme scandal we finally have the report from Patrick Coughlin.
With bated breath, we have waited for the inquiry to conduct its investigation and publish its findings. Now, with the restoration of devolved Government in Northern Ireland, we have something of a whimper, rather than a bang.
The report has found that, despite the constant back and forth between Sinn Féin and the DUP over the scheme, and the public outcry that led to a second election and Arlene Foster effectively ejected from her position as First Minister, the inquiry has found no intentional wrongdoing or corruption at the heart of the botched energy scheme.
“Wholly inappropriate” was the comment made in the report to describe the actions and ineptitude of some Ministers and their Special Advisors. For a bit of background, the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme was designed to encourage businesses to switch to a lower carbon type of fossil fuel through wood-pellet burners.
Then Enterprise Minister and now leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster MLA, established the scheme in 2012—but without introducing adequate cost controls. The rate being paid to users of the scheme was higher than the cost of the fuel actually being used; a situation which is estimated to cost the public purse a tidy sum of £500 million. Foster’s successor in the role, former MLA Jonathan Bell, closed the scheme in 2016.
The blame game
It was Bell who took to the airwaves in the winter of 2016 and publicly laid the blame for the overspending at the door of the then First Minister. His explosive interview on the Nolan Show sent Northern Ireland’s politics into a tailspin, and ended with the resignation of the late Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister and subsequently an election in April 2017.The DUP lost ten seats, and with them the numbers to block legislation via the Petition of Concern, a mechanism introduced as part of the Good Friday Agreement with the goal of ensuring that contentious legislation would only be introduced with cross-community support.
Protracted and strained negotiations to restore the Executive lasted from the election until January of this year, and many expected Arlene Foster’s political career to be demolished in the ensuing inquiry. The reality, however, appears to be the opposite.
Arrogance and ineptitude
It’s my honest opinion that the RHI scheme should never have been a devolved matter. A perfect storm of arrogance, incompetence and ineptitude in the public handling of the scheme has irreparably damaged the credibility of the Northern Ireland Executive to handle ambitious financial projects with any sense of responsibility or candour.Lies, spin, backstabbing and unchecked ego played out during the evidence sessions of the RHI Inquiry. Every instrument of blame, leaked email and cringe-worthy story of out of their depth Ministers behaving badly has eroded public confidence in the administration.
The culture of Special Advisers in the Executive also needs to be rebalanced as soon as possible. This report suggests unknown figures behind the most powerful offices in Northern Ireland had far too much control over the autonomy of Ministers and their Departmental obligations.
The allegations that former Special Advisor to the First Minister Timothy Johnston had a hand in delaying the cost control measures implemented by the Enterprise Minister have been held up as fact, even though he was not found to be in full possession of the detail. What kind of message does that send? That individuals unknown to the public have the power to back up Governmental decisions on public spending—without knowing all the facts—is a terrifying thought.
Despite Foster’s survival, then, the DUP aren’t exactly celebrating this week. Despite the headlines, and elections, and allegations of fraud no corruption or illegality was found. But nobody has come up smelling of roses. Questions will need to be asked within the DUP’s own ranks—but whether they, or their Governmental partners, have learned any lessons remains to be seen.
