DUP ‘deeply sorry’ over RHI - Foster

Arlene Foster said the inquiry into RHI has been 'painful' for the party. Credit: Press Eye

DUP leader Arlene Foster has said the party is “deeply, deeply sorry” over its handling of the RHI scheme.

Speaking at her party's annual conference in Belfast, she said: "Some of our past decisions and actions have left a lot to be desired and I know that they have personally hurt and offended many of our members, voters and the public."

The controversy surrounding the Renewable Heat Incentive led to the collapse of the Stormont institutions in 2017.

A public inquiry has exposed many of the failings at the heart of the green energy scheme, which ended up massively over budget.

Ms Foster conceded that the inquiry has been “difficult for many individually and painful for the party collectively”.

She said: "No party would want to have all of its dealings exposed for all to see at a public inquiry, especially in the unique system of government we have, with the struggles and strains required to make it work.

"But I make no excuses. Today, as leader of the party, I apologise.

"As a party we are deeply, deeply sorry for the mistakes we made and for the things we got wrong during that period.

"I am determined our party will learn the lessons from RHI and how Government business was conducted at Stormont more generally."

Ms Foster said there were lessons to be learned in regards to special advisers appointed to to aid ministers, and how they operated and were regulated.

She said there should be a "fundamental appraisal" of the Civil Service, with greater expertise needed, proper records should be kept and greater transparency displayed.

"Over the course of the last 12 months there have been a number of other areas where behaviour in our ranks has not matched the standards expected of people holding public office,” continued the DUP leader.

"We must ensure that there is no repeat of such behaviour and that those high standards we aspire to ourselves and that others rightly require of us are applicable at every level within this party."

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