CoMin making 'significant and determined efforts' to implement recommendations from Ranson review

Update on Richard Wright report to be debated at January's Tynwald sitting

The Council of Ministers says 'significant and determined efforts' have been made to address the areas identified in a review into government's handling of the Ranson case.

The report by Richard Wright KC made 24 recommendations for change following the employment tribunal, which saw the Island's former medical director Dr Rosalind Ranson awarded almost £3.2million for being unfairly dismissed as a result of whistleblowing.

His review found government's handling of Dr Ranson's claim was 'not conducted to a satisfactory standard of competency', and that the Attorney General's Chambers failed to understand the complexity of the claim or grasp the potential for significant reputational damage arising from the proceedings.

Since the review's findings were published in February, CoMin says 18 of the 24 recommendations have been implemented, with work continuing on the remaining six.

Action taken has included recruiting three senior legal practitioners and an additional paralegal to the Attorney General's litigation team.

The Attorney General's Chambers will also now provide further advice on disclosure, after Mr Wright's review found the Department of Health and Social Care's disclosure of documents fell "far below the standards required" and was "the single most significant factor in the negative outcome of the litigation".

After next year's General Election, new ministers and departmental members will be required to complete inductions explaining their role and responsibilities, while chief officers and other senior civil servants will complete inductions included an explanation of ministers' roles and the delegation of authority.

Discussions are also underway on plans to have separate emails for ministers rather than their individual accounts, which is likely to be implemented after the election.

The update from CoMin will be debated at January's sitting of Tynwald.