Pressure mounts after warnings exposed over RHI
Posted By: December 30, 2016
“In either case, it smacks of a minister asleep at the wheel, happy to take credit for others’ good work but refusing to take responsibility for their own failings in office.”
Pressure mounts after warnings exposed over RHI
Andrew Madden. Irish News. Belfast. Friday, December 30, 2016
More than a dozen companies and other bodies warned about the need for cost controls in the RHI scheme a year before its launch.
Arlene Foster has rejected calls to step aside while an independent investigation takes place. Picture by Mal McCann
STORMONT politicians have spoken out after it emerged concerns were raised about the need for cost controls in the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme a year before its launch.
The Irish News revealed yesterday that 13 companies and other bodies warned about ‘over-incentivisation” when responding to a consultation by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) in 2011.
The scheme was launched the following year but “fundamental flaws” have left the taxpayer facing a bill of up to £490m over the next 20 years.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood repeated calls yesterday for an independent, judge-led inquiry into RHI and for first minister Arlene Foster – previously a minister at Deti – to step aside while it takes place.
“As each week goes by, we learn more about how DUP ministers were being advised by senior civil servants, whistleblowers and now the business community that the RHI scheme ran the risk of becoming a burn-to-earn cash cow,” he said.
“Arlene Foster is a first minister that no longer commands the confidence of the assembly. Yet she refuses to stand aside. That is unprecedented.”
Alliance leader Naomi Long also said it was “inconceivable a minister would not be aware of such views being expressed in a consultation exercise”.
“There are only two possible explanations: Either the minister was simply not in control of her department and failed to ask even the most basic of questions from officials, or they knew of the warnings and proceeded regardless.
“In either case, it smacks of a minister asleep at the wheel, happy to take credit for others’ good work but refusing to take responsibility for their own failings in office.”
The first minister has described flaws in the RHI scheme as the “deepest political regret” of her time as an MLA but insisted she acted with the “highest level of integrity” and will not step aside.
She survived a no confidence vote in the assembly last week despite a majority voting in favour of her stepping aside.
Sinn Féin did not take part in the vote, which failed to secure the required majority of unionists.
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the revelations of warnings from companies “only strengthens the case for a robust, time-framed, transparent and independent investigation into the scandal”.
“Sinn Féin will be bringing forward a motion in early January, which deals comprehensively with the substantive
issues surrounding this debacle and calls on the first minister to stand aside during such an investigation.”
Ulster Unionist Steve Aiken claimed further revelations surrounding RHI could be in store.
“We suspect the full history of what even first minister Arlene Foster called a ‘debacle’ in her recent statement has yet to emerge,” he said.
The DUP and Department for the Economy did not respond when asked for comment yesterday.
Pressure mounts after warnings exposed over RHI
Andrew Madden. Irish News. Belfast. Friday, December 30, 2016
More than a dozen companies and other bodies warned about the need for cost controls in the RHI scheme a year before its launch.
Arlene Foster has rejected calls to step aside while an independent investigation takes place. Picture by Mal McCann
STORMONT politicians have spoken out after it emerged concerns were raised about the need for cost controls in the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme a year before its launch.
The Irish News revealed yesterday that 13 companies and other bodies warned about ‘over-incentivisation” when responding to a consultation by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) in 2011.
The scheme was launched the following year but “fundamental flaws” have left the taxpayer facing a bill of up to £490m over the next 20 years.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood repeated calls yesterday for an independent, judge-led inquiry into RHI and for first minister Arlene Foster – previously a minister at Deti – to step aside while it takes place.
“As each week goes by, we learn more about how DUP ministers were being advised by senior civil servants, whistleblowers and now the business community that the RHI scheme ran the risk of becoming a burn-to-earn cash cow,” he said.
“Arlene Foster is a first minister that no longer commands the confidence of the assembly. Yet she refuses to stand aside. That is unprecedented.”
Alliance leader Naomi Long also said it was “inconceivable a minister would not be aware of such views being expressed in a consultation exercise”.
“There are only two possible explanations: Either the minister was simply not in control of her department and failed to ask even the most basic of questions from officials, or they knew of the warnings and proceeded regardless.
“In either case, it smacks of a minister asleep at the wheel, happy to take credit for others’ good work but refusing to take responsibility for their own failings in office.”
The first minister has described flaws in the RHI scheme as the “deepest political regret” of her time as an MLA but insisted she acted with the “highest level of integrity” and will not step aside.
She survived a no confidence vote in the assembly last week despite a majority voting in favour of her stepping aside.
Sinn Féin did not take part in the vote, which failed to secure the required majority of unionists.
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the revelations of warnings from companies “only strengthens the case for a robust, time-framed, transparent and independent investigation into the scandal”.
“Sinn Féin will be bringing forward a motion in early January, which deals comprehensively with the substantive
issues surrounding this debacle and calls on the first minister to stand aside during such an investigation.”
Ulster Unionist Steve Aiken claimed further revelations surrounding RHI could be in store.
“We suspect the full history of what even first minister Arlene Foster called a ‘debacle’ in her recent statement has yet to emerge,” he said.
The DUP and Department for the Economy did not respond when asked for comment yesterday.
