Summary

  • Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry examining botched energy scheme

  • Head of NI Civil Service and ex-DETI chief official David Sterling questioned

  • 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 - 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.

  2. Good morning

    It's a nice, bright springtime morning up on Stormont hill as the Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry returns, having not sat last week.

    Today sees perhaps the second of the star witnesses - the first having been the so-called whistleblower Janette O'Hagan - appear before the inquiry to answer questions.

    Stormont's parliament BuildingsAFP

    David Sterling, the head of the NI Civil Service, is booked in for an all-day session.

    Proceedings will begin at about 09:45 and we'll have a live stream plus comprehensive text commentary throughout the day.