Renewable Heat Incentive: What is the political reaction?

The report into the renewable energy scheme, which contributed to the collapse of Northern Ireland's government three years ago, has been published.

It found the scheme was a "project too far" for the Northern Ireland Executive and "should never have been adopted".

The 656-page report said that while there was "unacceptable" behaviour by some officials, ministers and special advisers, what went wrong was a "compounding of errors and omissions over time and a failure of attention".

Here's what major figures in Northern Ireland's political world have been saying about the long-awaited report.

First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster

First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster

"For my part, I am determined to learn from my mistakes and to work to ensure that the mistakes and systematic failures of the past are not repeated."

"In my conference speech to the Democratic Unionist Party in 2018, I indicated that the best of intentions do not make us immune from mistakes and misjudgements. Today I again apologise for my failings in the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

"As I look back over the events of the last number of years, and with the benefit of that hindsight, there are many things that could and should have been handled in a very different way.

"However the unalterable truth is that none of us can change or relive that which has already happened but we can take the experience and use it to shape the road ahead."

On the treatment of businesswoman and whistleblower Janette O'Hagan, who pointed out problems with the scheme, Mrs Foster said: "She should have been taken much more seriously by the department and of course I regret that that was the case."

Asked about her relationship with Sinn Féin leader Michelle O'Neill, she said: "We have differences in approach, but we have to work through those and not get back to position where we have to collapse the government."

Finance Minister Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin

Finance Minister Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin

"I have no doubt that this report is extremely challenging for everybody here. The responsibility now is to put those recommendations into action to change the system.

"The recommendations of this report will be worked through and an action plan will be brought forward.

"The inquiry team has completed its work and now it's over to us to turn the recommendations into real action and reform.

"We need effective government and we need good practice in terms of our handling of public finances and we need to ensure that an issue such as this... can never arise again."

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood

"The systemic mismanagement of the RHI scheme was the biggest financial scandal in the history of devolution.

"The subsequent attempts to frustrate scrutiny of the scheme and the failure to candidly admit what had gone wrong immediately were disastrous errors of political judgment.

"The finding in the report that the Economy, Trade and Investment committee was unable to discharge its scrutiny function is particularly concerning. This has contributed in a significant way to a collapse in public confidence in these institutions and in politicians.

"I have said previously that the last executive was the most secretive in the history of devolved government. This inquiry report presents an urgent case for immediate reform of the processes of government."

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir

"At first glance, it appears there are clear lessons to be learned and issues of real public concern, showing why reform of the institutions is essential.

"This report must act as a watershed moment for those who have been criticised directly, as well as the wider culture and system of governance, which enabled their actions and inactions.

"Alliance has always been a champion of openness and transparency, alongside ethics and effective scrutiny of government. This report gives us a strong basis for doing precisely that within the current executive.

"Rules and procedures are important for a government to effectively work and ensure faith from the public. They cannot be viewed as optional or discretionary."

UUP Chief Whip Robbie Butler

UUP chief whip Robbie Butler

"We have to remember the damage that has been done to Northern Ireland PLC with regard to those, not just administrative failures, but political failures also.

"We need to show a maturity, that we are going to learn from what is within these documents, that we will be brave in taking the steps to ensure that failures of these proportions do not happen again.

"There was a culture that was unhealthy with regard to availing of treasury money and if you look at those fiscal problems we have today, have those lessons been learned?

"What does the reputation of Northern Ireland look like, not only within the UK but across the world when we come to a fill-your-boots type of mentality?"

TUV leader Jim Allister

TUV leader Jim Allister

"Although the language in the report is quite neutral, it's abundantly clear that the panel was appalled by what they found that passes in government here, leading them to the conclusion that this government was never fit to handle a scheme like RHI.

"There was an appalling level of ineptitude and no accountability.

"It may be because the blame was spread so widely that some who deserve more criticism have gotten off lightly.

"A key question, in terms of all the findings, is will there be any consequences? Will any heads roll?

"If ministers who floundered in a department carry on as if nothings happened, is that good enough? I think not."