Sinn Féin : Anderson seeks meeting with European Commissioner for Competition over RHI

23 January, 2017 - by Martina Anderson MEP

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has requested an urgent meeting with the European Commissioner for Competition to raise concerns about the RHI scandal.

Ms Anderson said;

'I have written today to European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, to request an urgent meeting to discuss the RHI scandal.

'In 2012 the EU Commission gave approval to the then DETI minister Arlene Foster to launch the RHI scheme.

'The Commission stated that only 'useful heat' will be eligible under RHI scheme and even included provision that it should not provide incentives to waste heat.

'Given the ongoing scandal over the DUP's handling of the RHI scheme, which has been characterised by payments for wasting heat, we now need to know whether the Commission is planning to take any action.

'There are several important questions which need to be answered around whether the Commission was aware there was no cap in the north, and whether any advice or guidance was offered to the then DETI minister.

'The Commissioner has already acknowledged my letter and I look forward to the meeting to discuss these concerns.'