Stormont Live: Arlene Foster survives no-confidence vote over heat scheme scandal

Summary

Arlene Foster survives no-confidence vote in Northern Ireland Assembly
Foster gives statement on scandal-hit Renewable Heat Incentive scheme
Opponents call on first minister to stand down to allow inquiry into botched initiative
Mass walk-out by all parties except DUP ahead of Foster's address
DUP leader resists opponents "quest" to build her "political gallows"

Live Reporting

Robin Sheeran and Iain McDowell

'Foster should do decent thing and resign'published at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI
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Christmas won't save Foster, says Eastwoodpublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Stephen Walker
BBC News NI Political Correspondent
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Community united in anger, says Eastwoodpublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Gareth Gordon
BBC News NI Political Correspondent
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'Digging into scandal reveals staggering incompetence'published at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood begins the debate on the motion to exclude Arlene Foster from her office as first minister, external by telling the assembly that digging into the RHI scandal has uncovered "staggering incompetence".
Digging deeper "may uncover corruption", he adds.
Turning to the position of the first minister, Mr Eastwood appeals to Mrs Foster: "Think beyond yourself and your party.
"We can't go on like this - the longer the first minister remains in office the more her credibility will fade," Mr Eastwood says.
Sinn Féin amendment ruled inadmissablepublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Speaker Robin Newton lays down the rules for the debate and explains that an amendment brought by Sinn Féin has been judged incompatible with the 1998 Northern Ireland Act.
Welcome backpublished at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
In the midst of all the turmoil it's perhaps worth noting that today has been Christmas lunch day at the Stormont canteen.
Image source, Thinkstock
A few MLAs may be swallowing hard as we join them for the no confidence vote in the first minister brought by the UUP, SDLP Alliance and Greens.
No taxi for Foster but 'coach and horses' for Stormont rulespublished at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Stephen Walker
BBC News NI Political Correspondent
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Impact of stronger apology lost amid speaker furorepublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
BBC News NI editor tweets...
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Economy minister on Talkback nowpublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Talkback
BBC News NI
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What a day for a school trip to Stormont!published at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Sinn Féin MLA tweets...
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Analysis coming up on Newslinepublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
BBC Newsline
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Assembly suspended until 13:00published at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
With Arlene Foster's statement to the house and subsequent questions from DUP MLAs at an end, Speaker Robin Newton suspends the assembly for now.
We'll pick up the debate (or whatever it is will be coming next, who really knows any more?!) at 13:00.
'Opponents couldn't be bothered to show up'published at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
In reply to a question from Pam Cameron of the DUP, Arlene Foster says that "our opponents told us today was an important day and then they couldn't be bothered to show up".
The DUP leader says she is happy to answer questions at the assembly's Public Accounts Committee.
"I have nothing to hide in this matter, absolutely nothing, so why would other members bring an exclusion motion to exclude me?" she asks
"It is all party politics?"
DUP reverse position on scheme whistleblowerpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Talkback
BBC News NI
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Watch: Eamonn McCann lambasts Stormont's 'la-la-land'published at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Mark Simpson
BBC News NI
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'No acceptable answers for lack of cost controls'published at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
DUP MLA Sydney Anderson asks why the cost controls in the Great Britain scheme were not replicated In Northern Ireland.
Arlene Foster says she has spoken to her officials about that and has received three reasons, but "none of them are very acceptable".
Christopher Stalford (above), another of Mrs Foster's DUP colleagues, asks the first minister for her view of those who made points-of-order about "undermining the credibility of this house" and "run away from fulfilling their function of answering questions in this place and instead choose to do so in TV studios".
Mr Foster replies: "Of course it undermines this place when people do not stay here and ask the appropriate questions".
Other parties of running away, says DUPpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI
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Analysis: Old wounds being reopened by solo statementpublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI Political Correspondent
When it works, it shows politics in Northern Ireland is moving in the right direction, but it when it goes wrong it reopens old wounds and leaves the institutions hanging by a thread.
Joint ministerial authority means Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness have equal power and cannot work in isolation - they have no choice.
That’s why Arlene Foster’s decision to make a statement without the support of her partner in office today has plunged Stormont into a fresh crisis.
Joint office is the bond that holds Stormont together, but it now appears to be melting fast in this heating scandal.
'Other parties' walkout a media stunt'published at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
As there are no members of other parties present, the first question on Arlene Foster's statement comes from the DUP's William Humphrey.
He asks the first minister to comment on the other parties' walkout, which he calls "a media stunt".
"I just don't know what to say - the people of Northern Ireland deserve better," she says.
"They want a plan as to how to deal with this."
'From the gutter to the sewer'published at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Gareth Gordon
BBC News NI Political Correspondent
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