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RHI scandal: Arlene Foster faces no-confidence vote | |
(35 minutes later) | |
NI First Minister Arlene Foster is facing a vote of no confidence over her involvement in a botched heating scheme that could cost the taxpayer £400m. | |
Earlier, MLAs walked out of the Assembly chamber in protest against a statement by the DUP leader into the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. | |
She said that not introducing crucial cost-control measures in the scheme was her "deepest political regret". | |
Other parties objected to her being given permission to make the statement. | |
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at the Northern Ireland Assembly is a joint role and the deputy first minister, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, had withdrawn his approval for Mrs Foster to speak on the issue.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. |
'Political gallows' | |
The no-confidence motion was tabled by the SDLP and is backed by the UUP, Alliance Party, Green Party, TUV and People Before Profit, but Mrs Foster has decried it as a "trial by television" and "a Carry On film-type coup d'état". | |
Proposing the motion, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said digging into the RHI scandal had uncovered "staggering incompetence", and that digging deeper "may uncover corruption". | |
He appealed to Mrs Foster to think beyond herself and her party and step aside. | |
In a fiery response, the first minister railed against being rushed to the "political gallows", saying there was a premature and inappropriate race to judge her. | |
"They can't gang up and kick out the elected leaders of unionism," she said of her political rivals. | |
"I am here and I will be staying here... I have acted with the highest level of integrity." | |
Three hours have been set aside to allow MLAs to debate the no-confidence motion. | |
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. |
Earlier, Opposition politicians had been highly critical of Stormont Speaker Robin Newton for allowing Mrs Foster's statement to proceed. | |
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mr Newton's decision came perilously close to ripping up the joint nature of the Executive Office. | |
But after hearing objections from a number of MLAs, Mrs Foster finally told the depleted chamber no-one in government nor industry had picked up on crucial failings in relation to the overgenerous tariff offered by the RHI scheme. | |
She said 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. | |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |