The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
McGuinness resigns as NI deputy first minister
STORMONT: Sinn Fein veteran acts over heating debacle
Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster has accused Martin McGuinness of putting politics before principle by tendering his resignation.
A snap Assembly election is now looming and the Sinn Fein veteran’s move will lead to the collapse of the Stormont Executive and will force Mrs Foster from office.
Mr McGuinness announced his decision after his partner in government, the DUP leader, repeatedly refused to step down to facilitate a probe into the ill-fated Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – a scheme that has left Stormont facing a £490 million overspend.
Mrs Foster said: “It is clear that Sinn Fein’s actions are not principled, they are political.”
Mr McGuinness said he was resigning with “deep regret and reluctance”.
“We in Sinn Fein will not tolerate the arrogance of Arlene Foster and the DUP,” he said.
“I believe today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP’s arrogance.”
The DUP leader said she disappointed.
“His actions have meant that, at precisely the time we need our Government to be active, we will have no government and no way to resolve the RHI problems.”
She added: “Let me make it clear the DUP will always defend unionism and was stand up for what is best for Northern Ireland and it appears from the Deputy First Minister’s resignation letter that is what annoys Sinn Fein the most.”
The Sinn Fein veteran is experiencing health problems but he insisted that had not influenced his decision.
“The First Minister has refused to stand aside, without prejudice, pending a preliminary report from an investigation,” Mr McGuinness said.
“That position is not credible or tenable.”
He insisted Sinn Fein would not replace him in the role. As a consequence, the collapse of the institutions and an election are now inevitable.
“We now need an election to allow the people to make their own judgment on these issues democratically, at the ballot box,” he said.
Mrs Foster presided over the ill-fated RHI while economy minister.
She has steadfastly refused to accede to Sinn Fein’s demand for her to step aside to facilitate an inquiry into her actions.
The state-funded RHI was supposed to offer a proportion of the cost businesses had to pay to run eco-friendly boilers, but the subsidy tariffs were set too high and, without a cap, it ended up paying out significantly more than the price of fuel.