A WHISTLEBLOWER who tried to warn about failings in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, contacted the then economy minister Arlene Foster on her personal email eight days after her initial contact with the department.
The DUP this week produced a redacted email from the whistleblower, dated August 2013, asking for a meeting with officials to discuss green energy.
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds claimed the email showed that the woman in question "simply asked for a meeting on energy efficiency matters" rather than highlighted flaws with the RHI, which were only later raised with officials.
The DUP deputy leader said opposition parties needed to withdraw the claim that the first minister failed to follow up on the email.
The party claimed this was proof that Mrs Foster was not alerted to problems with the £1.2 billion scheme, expected to cost an additional £480 million over the next 20 years.
The whistleblower has since claimed she did not give permission for the email to be made public.
The Public Accounts Committee, investigating the financial scandal, yesterday invited Mrs Foster to appear before it as part of the probe into RHI.
Arlene Foster speaking to the Irish News in October about the RHI scheme:
The Irish News understands that PAC members were shown further correspondence yesterday from the whistleblower in the confidential section of the committee's business.
The email was dated eight days after the initial contact was sent to Ms Foster's direct email and raised concerns about the scheme.
It was shown to committee members in closed session and then removed by officials.
