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RHI scandal: First Minister faces no-confidence vote | |
(35 minutes later) | |
MLAs have walked out of Northern Ireland's Assembly chamber in protest against a statement by the first minister on a botched heating scheme. | |
The Renewable Heat Incentive scheme could cost the NI taxpayer £400m. | The Renewable Heat Incentive scheme could cost the NI taxpayer £400m. |
DUP leader Arlene Foster said that not introducing crucial cost-control measures in the scheme was her "deepest political regret". | |
Amid chaotic scenes in Stormont, she is facing a vote of no confidence over her involvement in the scheme. | |
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. | |
The Office of First and Deputy First Minister at the Northern Ireland Assembly is a joint role and the Deputy First Minister, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, had withdrawn his approval for Mrs Foster to speak on the issue. | |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Analysis - BBC News NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty | Analysis - BBC News NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty |
When it works, it shows politics in Northern Ireland is moving in the right direction but when it goes wrong it reopens old wounds and leaves the institutions hanging by a thread. | When it works, it shows politics in Northern Ireland is moving in the right direction but when it goes wrong it reopens old wounds and leaves the institutions hanging by a thread. |
Joint ministerial authority means Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness have equal power and cannot work in isolation. They have no choice. | Joint ministerial authority means Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness have equal power and cannot work in isolation. They have no choice. |
That's why Arlene Foster's decision to make a statement without the support of her partner in office today has plunged Stormont into a fresh crisis. | That's why Arlene Foster's decision to make a statement without the support of her partner in office today has plunged Stormont into a fresh crisis. |
Joint office is the bond which holds Stormont together, it now appears to be melting fast in this heating scandal. | Joint office is the bond which holds Stormont together, it now appears to be melting fast in this heating scandal. |
Opposition politicians were highly critical of the Stormont Speaker Robin Newton for allowing Mrs Foster's statement to proceed. | Opposition politicians were 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. | 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. |
When proceedings resumed following an initial walk-out, speaker Robin Newton came under concerted pressure from MLAs over his decision to take the first minister's statement in the absence of Sinn Féin approval. | |
After hearing objections from a number of MLAs, Mrs Foster finally addressed the depleted chamber. | After hearing objections from a number of MLAs, Mrs Foster finally addressed the depleted chamber. |
She said no-one in government or industry had picked up on crucial failings in relation to the overgenerous tariff offered by the RHI scheme. | |
Mrs Foster told MLAs she had not imposed the scheme on the people of Northern Ireland, adding that while she was setting out a plan to deal with the fall out, others were trying to use the situation for political gain. | |
The motion to exclude Mrs Foster from ministerial office while the RHI scheme is investigated was tabled by the SDLP. | The motion to exclude Mrs Foster from ministerial office while the RHI scheme is investigated 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. |
No credibility? | No credibility? |
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 Arlene Foster has criticised Mr Bell's handling of the matter. | |
Mr Bell had said a whistleblower civil servant had told him references to Mrs Foster were removed from a document as the ending of the scheme was being considered. | |
Economy Minister Simon Hamilton released documents on Sunday which he said questioned Mr Bell's version of events, although he conceded serious allegations made by Mr Bell warranted investigation. | |
Mr Bell was suspended from the DUP over the weekend for 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. |