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| Ex-minister told lies over flawed green scheme, says DUP head of press | Ex-minister told lies over flawed green scheme, says DUP head of press |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The DUP's director of communications has accused a former ministerial colleague of telling lies about the handling of Northern Ireland's flawed green energy scheme. | |
| John Robinson made the claim about ex-DUP Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell. | John Robinson made the claim about ex-DUP Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell. |
| He is appearing at the inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. | He is appearing at the inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. |
| It was set up in 2012 to encourage uptake of eco-friendly heat systems, but overgenerous fuel subsidies left NI taxpayers with a £490m bill. | It was set up in 2012 to encourage uptake of eco-friendly heat systems, but overgenerous fuel subsidies left NI taxpayers with a £490m bill. |
| The scheme's failings led to the establishment of a public inquiry in January 2017. | The scheme's failings led to the establishment of a public inquiry in January 2017. |
| It was during that time that Mr Bell named Mr Robinson in the NI Assembly as one of two DUP advisers who wanted to delay cost controls to the scheme because their families had "extensive interests in the poultry sector". | |
| Poultry farmers made up the majority of RHI claimants. | Poultry farmers made up the majority of RHI claimants. |
| 'Shocked' | 'Shocked' |
| Mr Robinson told the inquiry that Mr Bell's claim was completely untrue. | Mr Robinson told the inquiry that Mr Bell's claim was completely untrue. |
| He said none of his immediate family had boilers and that when he was named by Mr Bell, he was "as shocked as anyone". | He said none of his immediate family had boilers and that when he was named by Mr Bell, he was "as shocked as anyone". |
| He told the panel the claim was "hurtful" and that it catapulted his family into a media spotlight they did not deserve. | He told the panel the claim was "hurtful" and that it catapulted his family into a media spotlight they did not deserve. |
| "Jonathan told lies, he knows he told lies and I'll just leave it at that," he said. | "Jonathan told lies, he knows he told lies and I'll just leave it at that," he said. |
| Although none of his immediate family are on the RHI scheme, Mr Robinson's father-in-law is a claimant, having applied in August 2015. | Although none of his immediate family are on the RHI scheme, Mr Robinson's father-in-law is a claimant, having applied in August 2015. |
| 'Conflict of interest' | 'Conflict of interest' |
| Mr Robinson said he did not discuss the RHI scheme with his father-in-law and that neither he nor his wife had any role or benefit in his in-laws' farming business. | Mr Robinson said he did not discuss the RHI scheme with his father-in-law and that neither he nor his wife had any role or benefit in his in-laws' farming business. |
| In his witness statement, published on Tuesday, Mr Robinson said he "regretted" not seeking an opportunity to make his party aware of his relatives' connection to the scheme earlier. | In his witness statement, published on Tuesday, Mr Robinson said he "regretted" not seeking an opportunity to make his party aware of his relatives' connection to the scheme earlier. |
| "I accept that some may have perceived this as a conflict of interest with my work as a special adviser," he added. | "I accept that some may have perceived this as a conflict of interest with my work as a special adviser," he added. |
| He was asked about that perceived conflict of interest at the inquiry on Wednesday. | He was asked about that perceived conflict of interest at the inquiry on Wednesday. |
| By the time Mr Robinson came to work in the economy department as a special adviser in May 2016, the scheme had been closed - but officials were still working to address the huge budgetary overspend. | By the time Mr Robinson came to work in the economy department as a special adviser in May 2016, the scheme had been closed - but officials were still working to address the huge budgetary overspend. |
| Mr Robinson said he regretted not signing a written declaration of interest when he first told then Economy Minister Simon Hamilton about his father-in-law's link to the scheme in July 2016. | Mr Robinson said he regretted not signing a written declaration of interest when he first told then Economy Minister Simon Hamilton about his father-in-law's link to the scheme in July 2016. |
| Mr Robinson said he and Mr Hamilton decided that as he was not a decision-maker, it was not necessary to take any further steps such as informing the civil service. | Mr Robinson said he and Mr Hamilton decided that as he was not a decision-maker, it was not necessary to take any further steps such as informing the civil service. |
| He said that was a mistake, and had he taken further steps he would have been in a "a much more defensible position" when the media asked him questions about his links to the scheme. | He said that was a mistake, and had he taken further steps he would have been in a "a much more defensible position" when the media asked him questions about his links to the scheme. |
| The inquiry also heard there was no mechanism for an adviser to make a declaration of interest until the form was created in December 2016. | The inquiry also heard there was no mechanism for an adviser to make a declaration of interest until the form was created in December 2016. |
| Inquiry counsel Donal Lunny asked Mr Robinson if he could see the potential for a perceived conflict of interest. | Inquiry counsel Donal Lunny asked Mr Robinson if he could see the potential for a perceived conflict of interest. |
| 'Political pressure' | 'Political pressure' |
| Mr Robinson said he could, but added that he had no knowledge of RHI. | Mr Robinson said he could, but added that he had no knowledge of RHI. |
| After his family connection to the scheme became public knowledge, Mr Robinson stepped aside from advising Simon Hamilton on RHI issues. | After his family connection to the scheme became public knowledge, Mr Robinson stepped aside from advising Simon Hamilton on RHI issues. |
| Mr Lunny put it to Mr Robinson that he only stood aside on RHI matters when the story broke to attempt to address building "political pressure", rather than the perceived conflict of interest. | Mr Lunny put it to Mr Robinson that he only stood aside on RHI matters when the story broke to attempt to address building "political pressure", rather than the perceived conflict of interest. |
| Mr Robinson said he could see why people might think that, but insisted he stepped aside in order to allow the focus to remain on fixing the scheme. | Mr Robinson said he could see why people might think that, but insisted he stepped aside in order to allow the focus to remain on fixing the scheme. |
| When the assembly dissolved for the upcoming election in March 2017, sparked by the RHI scandal, he lost his adviser job. | When the assembly dissolved for the upcoming election in March 2017, sparked by the RHI scandal, he lost his adviser job. |
| But Mr Robinson returned to his previous role as the DUP's director of press communications. | But Mr Robinson returned to his previous role as the DUP's director of press communications. |
| On Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday, another former DUP special adviser will appear before the RHI inquiry for the first time. | On Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday, another former DUP special adviser will appear before the RHI inquiry for the first time. |
| It has already emerged that Stephen Brimstone is a claimant on the scheme, as is his brother, Aaron. | It has already emerged that Stephen Brimstone is a claimant on the scheme, as is his brother, Aaron. |
| 'Information purposes' | 'Information purposes' |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster has said Mr Brimstone's link to the scheme was not a factor in his decision to quit his job as a special adviser in late 2016. | DUP leader Arlene Foster has said Mr Brimstone's link to the scheme was not a factor in his decision to quit his job as a special adviser in late 2016. |
| According to Mr Bell, Mr Brimstone was also one of three advisers who witnessed a tense and angry exchange between him and Arlene Foster over the proposed closure of the scheme in early 2016, but he has said that was not the case. | According to Mr Bell, Mr Brimstone was also one of three advisers who witnessed a tense and angry exchange between him and Arlene Foster over the proposed closure of the scheme in early 2016, but he has said that was not the case. |
| In his witness statement to the inquiry, Mr Brimstone has said he told Mrs Foster "only for information purposes" in January 2016 that he had applied to the scheme, as he was then advising her in the first minister's office. | In his witness statement to the inquiry, Mr Brimstone has said he told Mrs Foster "only for information purposes" in January 2016 that he had applied to the scheme, as he was then advising her in the first minister's office. |
| He had applied to the scheme in August 2015. | He had applied to the scheme in August 2015. |
| Mr Brimstone has been in the public eye before: he was an aide to former social development minister Nelson McCausland, during which time he became entangled in a housing maintenance scandal. | Mr Brimstone has been in the public eye before: he was an aide to former social development minister Nelson McCausland, during which time he became entangled in a housing maintenance scandal. |
| On Friday, the inquiry will hear from another former DUP special adviser, Timothy Johnston, who is now the party's chief executive. | On Friday, the inquiry will hear from another former DUP special adviser, Timothy Johnston, who is now the party's chief executive. |