Martin McGuinness
By Anthony Neeson
Martin McGuinness has once more called on Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster to step aside.
During his New Year’s message the North’s Deputy First Minister – and Mrs. Foster’s partner in government – said that Northern Ireland is facing a political crisis as public confidence in the political institutions has been “grievously undermined” by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) debacle.
First Minister Foster and her Democratic Unionist Party have been under pressure from before the Christmas recess over the RHI scheme which could cost the taxpayer up to £490 million.
The environmentally-friendly RHI was set up by Mrs. Foster’s Enterprise department in 2012.
However, Foster is facing accusations that she didn’t act on information from a whistleblower regarding serious flaws in the scheme.
She is also facing questions regarding the setting up of the scheme, which unlike its counterpart in Britain did not have cost control measures, or a tiered system built in.
The First Minister is also at loggerheads with the man who replaced her at the department, former DUP minister Jonathan Bell, over what happened in the months leading up to the closing of the heating scheme when there was a spike in applicants.
Martin McGuinness said: “In order to address these challenges the DUP and its leader Arlene Foster need to accept there is an overwhelming desire in the community to deal with this issue and for Arlene to step aside as First Minister pending a preliminary report.
“That would allow for an independent investigation to take place, which is transparent, robust, time-framed and led by an independent judicial figure from outside this jurisdiction appointed by the Attorney General. A rigorous process to recoup as much of the money as possible must also be put in place.
“We need to restore public confidence in the credibility of the political institutions, ensuring they deliver for the people.”
