politics
Review Identifies Governance and Culture Issues at Troubles Legacy Commission
A government-commissioned review has identified significant issues with financial management, leadership conflict and staff morale at the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn described the findings as deeply concerning and unacceptable.
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A review into the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery has found the body facing significant problems with financial management, leadership conflict and staff morale. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the findings were deeply concerning. He added that what had been identified in the report was unacceptable and falls below the standards expected.
Hilary Benn stated that the ICRIR was set up to undertake complex and sensitive investigations relating to deaths and serious injuries during the Troubles. Its senior leadership team has a duty to uphold the organisation's values and those of the wider public sector to ensure victims, survivors and their families can have confidence in the organisation's ability to deliver, he said.
He added that he was deeply concerned to see some of the findings in Peter May's review and that it is for the ICRIR board to take whatever steps are necessary and appropriate to address this.
The independent review was carried out by former Northern Ireland Civil Service permanent secretary Peter May. It was commissioned following concerns about the ICRIR's corporate effectiveness and culture. The report found descriptions of the culture in ICRIR included language like toxic, silo working, divided and disrespectful.
The report said pretty much everyone recognised there were deep divisions which were damaging the successful completion of work as well as adversely impacting morale and in some cases wellbeing of staff. It said it was important to recognise there were real strengths in the work done to date.
