Debate contribution: Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Closure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Debate contribution by Mr Declan Kearney on .
- MLA
- Mr Declan Kearney
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 7 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Closure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5670330
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Ten years after the DUP ineptitude and arrogance around the RHI debacle, which collapsed these institutions, I welcome the work that has been done by the Sinn Féin Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald, to close the RHI scheme. I associate myself with Phillip's remarks, as Chair of the Committee, in noting the progress that has been made to bring us to this point and in commending the officials who have worked diligently to ensure that we have arrived at this point. The RHI scheme was a missed opportunity. It should and could have been a positive, successful green initiative: one that could have reduced our carbon footprint and, overall, contributed to a viable, sustainable renewable energy strategy. That did not happen; instead, the scheme descended into farce and absolute ridicule due to the lack of oversight by the then Department and by the chronic incompetence of the then DUP Minister. I thank the current Economy Minister for her work in bringing the scheme to an end and ending the saga, and I note the ongoing work of the Economy Committee in assisting her in bringing us to this point.
190 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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