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RHI scandal: Foster faces no-confidence vote RHI scandal: MLAs stage mass walk-out from Assembly chamber
(about 1 hour later)
First Minister Arlene Foster faces a vote of no confidence at the Assembly over her involvement in a botched heating scheme. MLAs from most of the main political parties in Northern Ireland have walked out of the Assembly chamber.
The ministerial exclusion motion was tabled by the SDLP and has the backing of the UUP, Alliance Party, Green Party, TUV and People Before Profit. The mass walk-out happened ahead of a statement by First Minister Arlene Foster on a botched heating scheme.
Sinn Féin want Mrs Foster to step aside while an investigation is undertaken by an independent judicial figure appointed by the Attorney General. She is facing a vote of no confidence over the RHI scheme. As proceedings began, all the MLAs gathered in the chamber walked out except the DUP and two other MLAs.
The DUP also support an investigation. Proceeding have been suspended for half an hour.
The ministerial exclusion motion was tabled by the SDLP.
It has the backing of the UUP, Alliance Party, Green Party, TUV and People Before Profit.
Sinn Féin wanted Mrs Foster to step aside during an investigation by an independent judicial figure, but the party's proposed amendment to the SDLP motion was ruled inadmissible.
The DUP supports an investigation, but rejected calls for the first minister to step down.
The Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme (RHI) was set up by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) under the stewardship of Mrs Foster in 2012 to encourage businesses and other non-domestic users to move from using fossil fuels to renewable heating systems.The Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme (RHI) was set up by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) under the stewardship of Mrs Foster in 2012 to encourage businesses and other non-domestic users to move from using fossil fuels to renewable heating systems.
But flaws in setting the scheme's subsidy rate left it open to abuse as claimants could earn more cash the more fuel they burned.But flaws in setting the scheme's subsidy rate left it open to abuse as claimants could earn more cash the more fuel they burned.
Analysis - BBC News NI political editor Mark DevenportAnalysis - BBC News NI political editor Mark Devenport
I suspect Arlene Foster will dig in and hang on, she certainly won't be excluded against her will.I suspect Arlene Foster will dig in and hang on, she certainly won't be excluded against her will.
What we cannot rule out is that the two main parties (the DUP and Sinn Féin) will come to some kind of accommodation involving some kind of inquiry/review of the paperwork.What we cannot rule out is that the two main parties (the DUP and Sinn Féin) will come to some kind of accommodation involving some kind of inquiry/review of the paperwork.
Maybe she could take that six-week option that Peter Robinson took at times where you very temporarily stand down, but I don't think she's terribly keen on it.Maybe she could take that six-week option that Peter Robinson took at times where you very temporarily stand down, but I don't think she's terribly keen on it.
The scheme was finally halted early this year, by which time its overall cost had reached £1.18bn.The scheme was finally halted early this year, by which time its overall cost had reached £1.18bn.
About £20m a year for the next two decades could be taken from the Northern Ireland budget to cover the overspend.About £20m a year for the next two decades could be taken from the Northern Ireland budget to cover the overspend.
No credibility?No credibility?
On Sunday, Sinn Féin warned of grave consequences if the DUP brought forward a statement during the debate on the RHI scheme without their support.On Sunday, Sinn Féin warned of grave consequences if the DUP brought forward a statement during the debate on the RHI scheme without their support.
The party's Martin McGuinness said Mrs Foster's planned statement - scheduled for about 10:30 GMT - does not have his authority or approval as deputy first minister.The party's Martin McGuinness said Mrs Foster's planned statement - scheduled for about 10:30 GMT - does not have his authority or approval as deputy first minister.
He said a DUP-established inquiry would have no credibility and warned there would be grave consequences if the DUP took a unilateral approach.He said a DUP-established inquiry would have no credibility and warned there would be grave consequences if the DUP took a unilateral approach.
The DUP said it supported the need for an independent and speedy investigation to establish what went wrong with the scheme which could cost taxpayers £400m.The DUP said it supported the need for an independent and speedy investigation to establish what went wrong with the scheme which could cost taxpayers £400m.
In an interview with the BBC's Stephen Nolan on Thursday, Mr Bell, a former enterprise minister, broke ranks with his DUP colleagues and made a number of sensational claims about how the controversial scheme was handled.In an interview with the BBC's Stephen Nolan on Thursday, Mr Bell, a former enterprise minister, broke ranks with his DUP colleagues and made a number of sensational claims about how the controversial scheme was handled.
He said DUP advisers had delayed his plans to close down the controversial scheme. He said DUP advisers had delayed his plans to close down the scheme.
The party denies this and leader Arlene Foster has criticised Mr Bell's handling of the matter.The party denies this and leader Arlene Foster has criticised Mr Bell's handling of the matter.
Mr Bell had said a whistle-blower civil servant told him references to Mrs Foster were removed from a document as the ending of the scheme was being considered.Mr Bell had said a whistle-blower civil servant told him references to Mrs Foster were removed from a document as the ending of the scheme was being considered.
Finance Minister Simon Hamilton released documents on Sunday which he said questioned Mr Bell's version of events surrounding the RHI scheme, but said the serious allegations made by Mr Bell warranted investigation.Finance Minister Simon Hamilton released documents on Sunday which he said questioned Mr Bell's version of events surrounding the RHI scheme, but said the serious allegations made by Mr Bell warranted investigation.
"There was no 'cleansing' of records, as both drafts are recorded and retained," said Mr Hamilton."There was no 'cleansing' of records, as both drafts are recorded and retained," said Mr Hamilton.
"The re-drafting was undertaken by Mr Bell's special adviser. It deleted a specific reference to OFMDFM being involved in discussions in early 2016 on the closure of RHI."The re-drafting was undertaken by Mr Bell's special adviser. It deleted a specific reference to OFMDFM being involved in discussions in early 2016 on the closure of RHI.
"This was not done on behalf of or to the benefit of first minister Foster."This was not done on behalf of or to the benefit of first minister Foster.
Mr Bell was suspended from the DUP over the weekend for allegedly speaking to the press without permission.Mr Bell was suspended from the DUP over the weekend for allegedly speaking to the press without permission.
The Treasury, which was due to cover the cost of the RHI scheme, said the executive would have to find the money for the enormous overspend.The Treasury, which was due to cover the cost of the RHI scheme, said the executive would have to find the money for the enormous overspend.
But Mrs Foster said that the executive believes at least half of the scheme's projected £400m cost to the Stormont budget can still be saved.But Mrs Foster said that the executive believes at least half of the scheme's projected £400m cost to the Stormont budget can still be saved.