NI First Minister defiant in face of no-confidence vote
Arlene Foster, who has just marked her first year as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, says she will not resign.
Monday 19 December 2016 04:18, UK
Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster faces a vote of no confidence today over a botched green energy scheme that could cost taxpayers 拢400m.
The devolved assembly at Stormont has been recalled from Christmas recess over what opposition parties have described as "the biggest public finance scandal since devolution".
But Mrs Foster, who has just marked her first year as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, said
She said: "The motion of no confidence is merely a political stunt because it is of no value.
"It can't compel me to do anything and it has only been brought about to try and add to the hyperbole that has come forward from the opposition parties.
"Well I have news for them. I am not resigning.
"I have a job to do and I intend to get on with that job because the mark of a politician is not what he or she does in good times. It's what he or she does when there are challenges in front."
The Renewable Heat Incentive, launched by Mrs Foster when she was Enterprise Minister, offered subsidies to businesses switching to greener fuel.
When some were found to be heating empty warehouses, it emerged a lack of cost controls meant the more they burned, the more they earned from the public purse.
For every £1 they spent, participants received £1.60 in subsidies, resulting in the scheme overspending by an estimated £400m.
There has been a very public row between Mrs Foster and party colleague Jonathan Bell, who succeeded her as Enterprise Minister, about why the scheme was not shut sooner.
Sinn Fein, which shares power with Mrs Foster's Democratic Unionist Party, have confirmed they will table their own motion calling on her to stand aside as First Minister while the scandal is properly investigated.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "It is my firm belief the only way to establish the truth of what has occurred and to begin to restore public faith in the institutions is for an independent, time-framed and robust investigation to take place.
"The First Minister should stand aside to allow this. There is also an urgent need to minimise the cost of the scheme to the public purse."
The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) criticised Sinn Fein for not supporting the opposition parties in their motion of no confidence.
A party spokesman said: "Pride has prevented the First Minister from standing aside to facilitate a full inquiry into the biggest public finance scandal in the history of devolution.
"Pride prevents Sinn Fein from signing up to a cross party proposal to stand the First Minister aside to facilitate a full inquiry into the biggest public finance scandal in the history of devolution."