Northern Ireland

Arlene Foster at loggerheads with civil service chief at RHI inquiry

Arlene Foster told the RHI inquiry the lack of official records was 'shocking and worrying'
Arlene Foster told the RHI inquiry the lack of official records was 'shocking and worrying' Arlene Foster told the RHI inquiry the lack of official records was 'shocking and worrying'

DUP leader Arlene Foster has rejected as "nonsense" claims by the head of the civil service that notes were not taken at ministerial meetings due to concerns about freedom of information requests.

David Sterling, who was permanent secretary at Mrs Foster's department during the development and initial implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), told the inquiry last month that the practice of minuting meetings with ministers had "lapsed" since the restoration of devolution more than a decade ago.

He claimed the DUP and Sinn Féin were sensitive to criticism and that it was sometimes "safer" not to have a record that might later be released under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.

The Irish News yesterday revealed subsequent correspondence between Mr Sterling and Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill.

The Mid Ulster MLA, who previously held both the agriculture and health portfolios, took issue with the inference that Sinn Féin ministers had requested that no minutes be taken at meetings.

Noting that Mr Sterling served under Sinn Féin ministers for "two brief periods", Ms O'Neill claimed his evidence "ignores inconvenient facts and lacks objectivity".

In his response to Ms O'Neill, the civil service head confirmed there was never "any general or specific instruction to me not to record meetings between officials and ministers".

Ahead of yesterday afternoon's evidence session, inquiry senior counsel David Scoffield said Mr Sterling's remarks had proven to be "particularity contentious and sensitive".

Ian Knox cartoon 19/4/18: Sir Patrick Coughlin's forensic interrogation makes the RHI inquiry unmissable 
Ian Knox cartoon 19/4/18: Sir Patrick Coughlin's forensic interrogation makes the RHI inquiry unmissable  Ian Knox cartoon 19/4/18: Sir Patrick Coughlin's forensic interrogation makes the RHI inquiry unmissable 

He highlighted the article in The Irish News, saying the the inquiry would assess whether it was "consistent" with what the head of the civil service told the inquiry last month.

When the DUP leader was asked about Mr Sterling's evidence yesterday, Mrs Foster rejected the notion that the minuting of official Stormont meetings was halted to prevent their release under FOI.

She said the lack of records was "shocking" and worrying but concern over transparency legislation and related political sensitivities was not an influence.

"I never gave a direction not to take minutes because of FOI or because I did not want anybody to see what was happening in my department," she said.

Mrs Foster highlighted how policy development was was exempt from FOI, although decision making was not.

The DUP leader also asked why the RHI scheme would have been contentious when her party's former partners in government were part of its introduction.

Asked about Mr Sterling's claim that the DUP and Sinn Féin were sensitive to criticism, Mrs Foster said she didn't know a politicians who wasn't, adding "given what I came through last year I think I am probably tougher than most".

"All politicians know that they are going to be criticised on a day and daily basis," she said.

"None of us took decisions to avoid criticism – politics is about not just getting elected, it is about doing something with your mandate and to deliver on what you want to deliver on."