Northern Ireland

RHI: Can BBC's Nolan Show publish the full claimants list?

A row of biomass boilers in Co Fermanagh attracting subsidies under the RHI scheme
A row of biomass boilers in Co Fermanagh attracting subsidies under the RHI scheme A row of biomass boilers in Co Fermanagh attracting subsidies under the RHI scheme

STORMONT has been under pressure for months to name the beneficiaries of the botched RHI scheme.

But now BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show says it has obtained a full list of the Renewable Heat Incentive claimants.

So why has the publicly-funded broadcaster not published the details?

Responding yesterday, a BBC spokeswoman said its "producers and lawyers are still actively working on the story", adding: "We will only ever publish where it is right and lawful to do so."

There is currently no court injunction stopping the BBC or other media from releasing the list of RHI beneficiaries.

An interim injunction secured by the Renewable Heat Association of Northern Ireland (RHANI) only prevents claimants being named by the Department for the Economy.

And it only covers those who were members of RHANI when the court order was granted late last month.

The interim injunction is to be the subject of a full legal hearing next month.

RHANI has also threatened to seek an injunction against the Nolan Show to prevent it naming RHI recipients, but this is only seemingly a threat at this stage.

The newly-formed group has more than 500 members, but there were more than 2,000 applicants to the non-domestic RHI scheme.

It means that the Department for the Economy is free to name the vast majority of RHI claimants, including some who have given permission for their names to be released after responding to written requests.

A month ago DUP economy minister Simon Hamilton pledged to publish the information, but has yet to do so.

The Irish News has repeatedly asked the economy department, the minister and the DUP why any names have not been published.

Asked again yesterday why details of non-RHANI members have not been revealed, a spokeswoman for the department merely repeated the statement it released earlier this month.

"The minister continues to consider the court judgment and will reflect on options to ensure maximum transparency on the details of non-domestic RHI recipients consistent with the ruling," she said.

Alliance's David Ford yesterday said Mr Hamilton should have released details of claimants in December.

"There is no excuse for him waiting until court injunctions were sought and claiming he wants the information published," he said.