Summary

  • Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry examining botched energy scheme

  • 'Whistleblower' Janette O'Hagan, who told Arlene Foster of flaws, gives evidence

  • Inquiry set up after public concern over scheme's huge projected overspend

  • Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Patrick Coghlin chairing inquiry at Stormont

  • Public evidence sessions expected to last until well into 2018

Live Reporting

Robin Sheeran and Iain McDowell

  1. RHI scheme - the flaws

    The budget of the RHI scheme ran out of control because of critical flaws in the way it was set up.

    Claimants could effectively earn more money the more fuel they burned because the subsidies on offer for renewable fuels were far greater than the cost of the fuels themselves.

    Burning £20 notes

    The most recent estimate for the overspend was set at £700m, if permanent cost controls aren't introduced.

    The massive overspend bill will have to be picked up by the Northern Ireland taxpayer.

  2. RHI scheme - what was it?

    The Renewable Heat Incentive scheme - or RHI for short - came to the fore of the Northern Ireland public's knowledge in late-2016... and the fallout from the scandal attached to it is still being felt in the region's politics today.

    A biomass boilerGetty Images

    The scheme was set up by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2012, as a way of encouraging businesses to switch from using fossil fuels to renewable sources for generating their heat.

    Those who signed up were offered financial incentives to buy new heating systems and the fuel to run them.

  3. Good morning

    Welcome along to a chilly-but-bright Stormont for what will almost certainly be one of the most keenly-watched days of the Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry so far.

    Stormont's Parliament BuildingsAFP

    We'll shortly be hearing from Janette O'Hagan, who's been described as a whistleblower after she emailed her concerns about the RHI scheme to then DETI minister Arlene Foster less than a year after the initiative opened.

    Proceedings begin shortly, so stick with us throughout what promises to be an intriguing day.