Debate contribution: Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Closure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 7 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Closure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5670313
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I beg to move
Today, I seek the Assembly's approval for the draft Renewable Heat Incentive (Closure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. The RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Act 2026, which enables the Department to make these regulations, was enacted on 17 June 2026. Regulation 4 provides a high-level overview of the key aspects of the regulations. Their purpose is to close the non-domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme, convert existing accreditations under that scheme to closure accreditations, revoke all accreditations that are not converted, and provide for annual closure payments for installations with a closure accreditation. My Department has engaged extensively with stakeholders throughout the development of the closure proposals, including with representative bodies such as the Ulster Farmers' Union and the Renewable Heat Association Northern Ireland. In addition, many individuals and businesses contributed to the development of the proposals through their responses to the consultation that was carried out at the end of last year. We made changes based on those responses. I extend my sincere thanks to those stakeholders, as well as to the Economy Committee, which undertook detailed and very constructive scrutiny of the policy for closure.
As a result of that constructive engagement, the closure proposals set out in the draft regulations have been built on a solid foundation. They fulfil the New Decade, New Approach commitment to close the RHI scheme, and they provide a fair and balanced outcome for participants and taxpayers. The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Closure) Regulations 2026, which I am pleased to bring to the Assembly, are the final step in the closure of the scheme.
266 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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