McGuinness resignation will ‘not fix RHI’, say retailers

A group representing Northern Irish independent retailers has expressed concern over the resignation of the Deputy First Minister.

The Northern Ireland Independent Retailer Trade Association (NIIRTA) said Martin Guinness’s surprise decision to step down on Monday would lead to further political instability.

Mr McGuiness made the announcement on Monday afternoon after repeated refusals by First Minister Arlene Foster to step aside pending either an investigation or enquiry into the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) scandal.

The resignation means Northern Ireland is likely facing a new round of elections to the Stormont Assembly just eight months after the DUP and Sinn Fein were returned as NI’s biggest parties.

NIIRTA chief executive Glyn Roberts said: “This situation is very concerning as political instability is neither good for business nor the economy.

“Big issues need to tackled such as Brexit, business rate reform, corporation tax, investment in skills, and modernisation of our infrastructure, which are all vital for the future of our local economy.”

Mr Roberts said that if an Assembly election is to be called, NIIRTA hoped it was “sooner rather than later” to ensure a new administration is in place at the earliest opportunity.

The NIIRTA chief added, however, he did not believe the vote could undo the considerable costs of the renewable heating scheme, which is projected to cost NI taxpayers some £490 million over the next 20 years.

The scheme was set up while Ms Foster was Minister of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. It is alleged the scheme was open to misuse and exploitation, costing taxpayers millions of pounds each year.

Mr Roberts said: “An election is not going to fix the problems around the RHI scheme. We need to see real leadership from all the political parties to see us through this crisis.”

The resignation came within hours of Ms Foster accusing Sinn Fein of engaging in a game of “chicken” with her party.

Publishing his resignation letter, Mr McGuinness, who is understood to be facing problems with his health, accused the DUP leader of “arrogance”.

“Over the last ten years I have worked with DUP leaders and reached out to unionists on the basis of equality, respect and reconciliation,” he said. “Sinn Féin will not tolerate the arrogance of Arlene Foster and the DUP. Today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP’s arrogance.”

Responding to the resignation, Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA also levelled the charge of arrogance at the DUP and Ms Foster, saying she had “recklessly endangered” the political institutions.

“The DUP have continued to ignore the voices who reasonably asked the First Minister step aside voluntarily and without prejudice to allow a public inquiry into RHI, to get to the truth of this matter,” Ms Long said. “Instead, they have chosen to escalate matters.”

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said the resignation of Martin McGuiness was “not the way to resolve the RHI scandal”.

“Sinn Féin should have stayed, to hold the first minister to account, to force a public inquiry and to vote on the much-needed cost controls on the scheme,” he said.

Responding to the news on Twitter, the DUP’s Sammy Wilson said: “The Finance Minister [Máirtín Ó Muilleoir] said he would ‘defend the public purse’ this morning. Except SF’s actions mean no RHI plan or budget.”