Debate contribution: RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill: Final Stage

Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on 12 May 2026.

MLA

Dr Caoimhe Archibald

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

12 May 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill: Final Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5528271

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I beg to move

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

I am pleased that the Bill, which will enable my Department to make regulations to close the non-domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme, has reached Final Stage. Members will be aware of the history of the RHI scheme, and I will not revisit the scheme's flaws today. It is sufficient to say that, for the first time, there is consensus between political parties, participants and the British Treasury over how to manage the scheme.

That is a significant achievement in itself.

I am grateful to the Committee for the Economy for the work that it carried out in scrutinising the Bill. The Committee has also put a substantial amount of work into scrutinising the proposals for regulations to be made under the new powers in the Bill, and I thank it for the time that it took during Committee Stage to consider the detailed policy proposals for closure. I also thank the Office of the Legislative Counsel (OLC) for its work on the Bill. My officials gave assurances to the Committee that the regulations would be brought forward swiftly. To that end, following completion of the Bill's Final Stage, my Department will send further information to the Committee, including an SL1 letter and an updated draft of the regulations. That will support the Committee's continuing scrutiny of the regulations in advance of Royal Assent and allow the formal processes to be concluded as quickly as possible thereafter. My Department engaged extensively with stakeholders throughout the development of the proposals for closure, including through public consultation and engagement with representative bodies such as the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) and the Renewable Heat Association Northern Ireland (RHANI). I thank them for their constructive engagement. I also thank Professor David Rooney and Ian Marshall from Queen's University for their support, which helped inform and strengthen the proposals. I am confident that the proposals for closure and the arrangements for existing participants will enable the scheme to be closed in a way that is fair to participants and the taxpayer. I will now address a number of specific issues that the Committee raised during its scrutiny. Members will be aware that the Bill sets out the legal framework for closing the scheme, with detailed arrangements to follow in regulations. Given the technical and operational nature of the scheme, I am satisfied that that is the most appropriate approach to take, particularly as the regulations will be subject to draft affirmative approval by the Assembly. On payments, the Committee considered the proposed approach to tariffs, the use of historical data and the banding model. I assure Members that that approach is evidence-based and is designed to deliver reasonable returns to participants while protecting the public finances. The use of historical data provides a clear and consistent basis for payments, while the banding approach offers a proportionate and practical way for participants to make ongoing declarations about use. The Committee also considered compliance arrangements. I can confirm that the regulations will include a clear and proportionate framework for assurance, including appropriate inspection and enforcement powers, where necessary. I reiterate the assurances provided to the Committee, specifically that all necessary approvals are in place; that the proposals deliver value for money and are affordable within the annually managed expenditure (AME) budget; that an appropriate level of assurance will be provided on the operation of the closure arrangements through the publication of information in aggregate form in respect of closure-accredited installations; and that the draft affirmative process provides for an appropriate level of Assembly oversight of the closure regulations and any future regulations made under the powers in the Bill. The Bill is vital, as it lays the foundation for the closure of the RHI scheme. I reiterate the Department's commitment to ensuring that that is achieved in a way that is fair to participants and the taxpayer. I commend the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill to the House.

663 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:33 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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