RHI: A Stormont MOT

Stormont was a car that was ticking along up until December 2016, but no one had looked under the bonnet and given it a good service.

When the RHI scandal broke, it lifted the lid on how Stormont had been working. It shone a light on how the parties had been operating on the inside, and how the civil service was managing the whole situation.

RHI exposed a vehicle that was rusting and was being welded together.

It eventually had to come off the road, where it sat for 3 years.

The former Secretary of State Julian Smith and Tanaiste Simon Coveney jump started it in January, but the senior mechanic Sir Patrick Coghlin and his formidable team are about to give their assessment on any parts that should be scrapped.

(Left to right) Dame Una O’Brien, Sir Patrick Coghlin and Dr Keith Maclean OBE of the RHI Inquiry panel. Credit: PressEye Credit: Press Eye

We know from the RHI Inquiry hearings that Friday’s report is likely to be long. Like the inquiry itself it will be detailed and forensic in analysing all the problems with the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

The key parts of the inquiry report to look out for will include the role of Stormont Ministers in the whole controversy. Arlene Foster was the Enterprise Minister who oversaw the setting up of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme in 2012.

Her former colleague Jonathan Bell took over as Enterprise Minister and was forced to close the RHI scheme down in 2016. His time in the witness box at the inquiry provided some of the most explosive of days of the 114 days of hearings.

Stormont's Senate Chamber was converted to accommodate the RHI Inquiry hearings. Credit: Pacemaker

The role of SPADs is also likely to feature heavily. Thanks to RHI and the inquiry, most people in Northern Ireland now know what a Stormont Special Adviser (SPAD) is, and who they were when the scheme was set up and eventually spiralled out of control. The inquiry uncovered how the political parties were appointing SPADs and the power they had within the Executive.

The NI Civil Service will form another major focus in the report. The inquiry heard from senior civil servants who admitted to making mistakes with RHI. We heard how no one took notes in meetings, how people with expertise were moved between departments so important issues were missed in preventing the RHI debacle. ‘Reform’ will probably be a key word on this.

The newly restored Northern Ireland Executive. Credit: Press Eye

We should expect a list of recommendations from the RHI Inquiry panel on how to fix the problems they uncovered. Just like when your car fails its MOT.

The current Stormont ministers will probably point to how they have already made efforts to deal with some of the problems.

But more work will be needed, to ensure Stormont continues to pass its MOTs in the years to come and to keep it roadworthy. And, perhaps more importantly, to build trust again with the public.

Let’s just forget for now that there’s a problem at the minute with our MOT centres too.