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RHI scandal: MLAs stage mass walk-out from Assembly chamber RHI scandal: MLAs walk out of Assembly for second time
(35 minutes later)
MLAs from most of the main political parties in Northern Ireland have walked out of the Assembly chamber. Members of Northern Ireland's Assembly have walked out of the chamber for a second time.
The mass walk-out happened ahead of a statement by First Minister Arlene Foster on a botched heating scheme. Proceedings began at 10:30 GMT but were halted a short time later after the majority of MLAs staged a mass walk-out.
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. It happened ahead of a statement by First Minister Arlene Foster on the botched heating scheme.
Proceeding have been suspended for half an hour. She is facing a vote of no confidence over her involvement in the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Proceeding were suspended for half an hour before resuming just after 11:00 GMT.
The 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.
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.
'Without approval or authority'
The other parties objected to Mrs Foster being given permission to make a ministerial statement, arguing that the statement did not have the authority of the Executive Office.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness confirmed that Mrs Foster - if she goes ahead with her statement - would be acting without his approval or authority.
Opposition politicians have been highly critical of the Stormont Speaker Robin Newton for allowing Mrs Foster's statement to proceed.
The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood argued that Mr Newton's decision had come perilously close to ripping up the joint nature of the Executive office.
After proceedings resumed, speaker Robin Newton came under concerted pressure from MLAs over his decision to take the first ministers statement in the absence of Sinn Féin approval.
The ministerial exclusion motion was tabled by the SDLP.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.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.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 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. Analysis - BBC News NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty
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. We've had showdowns at Stormont before but not quite like this one.
Analysis - BBC News NI political editor Mark Devenport In the space of ten minutes we had a Sinn Féin snub, opposition walkout and a DUP "whistleblower" trying to put the record straight again.
I suspect Arlene Foster will dig in and hang on, she certainly won't be excluded against her will. Politics was left paralysed and no-one knew what was going to happen next.
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. Even the man trusted with keeping order - the speaker Robin Newton - found himself at the centre of the storm as opposition parties accused him of stepping out of line by refusing point of orders.
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. Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said this was not about orange and green but about "weeding out corruption".
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.
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 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. Economy 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.