UTV EXCLUSIVE: First Minister Arlene Foster speaks for the first time over controversial RHI scheme

Tracey Magee reports from China where First Minister Arlene Foster is on a four-day visit. Credit: UTV

The First Minister has told UTV that she did all that was appropriate in the circumstances when responding to a whistle-blower's concerns over the now controversial renewable heating initiative scheme.

Questions have been raised about Arlene Foster's leadership following revelations in a BBC Spotlight programme, which claimed that the whistle-blower raised concerns about the scheme back in 2014 with the Department of Enterprise when Arlene Foster was the minister.

The warning was not acted on immediately and the scheme was finally closed earlier this year, resulting in a potential overspend of up to £400m over the next 20 years.

Speaking exclusively to UTV's Deputy Political Editor Tracey Magee, the First Minister has rejected calls for her to resign.

Ms Foster said: "I referred it to a senior official and they took it forward and it has been acknowledged indeed by the permanent secretary that I did all that was appropriate in the circumstances."