..can someone summarise the Arlene Foster crisis please

[Eve]

Ex NI resident but don't keep up with the news much, but keep seeing comments about Arlene Foster cash for ash.

Google only tells me recent situation? Could someone summarise the history?

Has she continued the long history of demonstrating that the ethics and morals NI politicians dictate to the public don't actually apply to them ?

[Irishhooley]

we the public aren't aware of all the facts yet, but basically there was a scheme for renewable heat started when she was minister for the relevant department. Businesses etc got grants for renewable heat, meaning they make money on the fuel burnt. Unlike the gb scheme, there was no cap on amount that could be claimed.
Turns out that some businesses etc were burning wood pellets to heat empty sheds, as there was a killing to be made from the scheme. So empty sheds being heated 24 hours a day. The Ferrari showroom also got a grant for this.
Cost to the public purse of £400million over next 20 years!
Then arlene got made FIrst minister, Jonathan bell replaced her in the minster of department position.
In his first month, he was advised that it was unsustainable, major issues. He alleges arlene and her special advisors overruled his decision to end the scheme. Some of those special advisors, and / or their family, were claimants to the scheme in the closing weeks.
Jonathan bell interview on BBC NI Thursday night is v interesting.
Not all details made public yet, but it ain't good. Smacks of corruption and greed.

[Eve]

Thanks for that... makes sense of some comments! My family have a farm and brother is an electrician... have heard them talking about heating sheds!

...and jokes on Facebook about burning wood pellets now make sense!

Corruption and greed - no history of that in NI politics is there?

[twinjocks]

Newton Emerson's piece in the Irish TImes today is good (not sure if he has an axe to grind or is truly impartial, but it summarises the whole sorry mess very well) www.irishtimes.com/opinion/newton-emerson-arlene-foster-burns-in-fire-of-own-making-1.2911971

[twinjocks]

Sorry, have just seen it's past midnight - so that's Newton Emerson's piece in yesterday's Irish Times!!

[SilverViking]

And now after blaming civil servant, department officials and consultants, the first minister is claiming everyone is picking on her because she is a woman!

www.irishnews.com/news/2017/01/06/news/foster-does-women-great-disservice-with-claims-of-misogyny-867098/

[SilentBatperson]

Has anyone seen Arlene's latest, now sadly deleted tweet? She posted basically calling the critics haters. From a 46 year old woman, First Minister of a country, mother of 3 and a fucking barrister. Unbelievable. I genuinely don't have any words. Naomi Long has had a go at her about it on Facebook. The LAD site have also had some brilliant memes on the matter. They told her she spelled heaters wrong.

Honestly I think the only reason she's still in post is because the alternatives are arguably worse. I used to think she was one of the saner ones.

[SilverViking]

Yes, it is very sad that this strong dedicated politician has boxed herself into a corner ... As we are still setting a president on how government works here .... It would be a great shame if it was acceptable to blame civil servants and accept no responsibility.

[SilentBatperson]

I just can't imagine what she's thinking. If she were determined to simply ride it out and ignore criticism, which to be fair to her might well work, she'd do much better to keep schtum entirely. Try the statesmanlike thing.

[Taytocrisps]

Looks like Martin McGuinness is resigning over the matter in protest.

[hollyisalovelyname]

I wonder is it to do with Brexit ?
She wants a hard Brexit.
Conspiracy theory anyone ?
Politics is never as it seems.
We, the public, who pay the politicians are always the last to know.

[SilentBatperson]

I doubt she really wants a hard Brexit.

[hollyisalovelyname]

I think she does. She was VERY dismissive of Enda Kenny's proposals for dealing with Brexit.
I can't stand Kenny.
He certainly isn't for helping the ordinary people of Ireland.
I never thought I'd say this about anybody else but I would put him in the Haughey, Ahearne category.
Mé Féiners helping the 'boyos' at the top.

[SilentBatperson]

Yeah, but then she has the usual combination of disdain and fear towards the south that you'd expect from a DUP-er. Standard. I think the August letter is more significant.

[wigglesrock]

I don't think its any kind of conspiracy regarding Brexit. Its her ego and arrogance pure and simple. To be honest I'm not sure she could pick Enda Kenny out of a line up, thats how little thought she would give him.

She fucked up with the heating, thought she'd get away with it, thought the party would carry her, refused to hold her hands up & her bluff was called. She backed herself into a corner & was outplayed. It'll make no difference in the end - it'll be a horribly fought election, right back to polarising votes on religious lines but that suits Sinn Fein too - I think that might be your conspiracy theory

[SilentBatperson]

Sounds about right. It's astonishing though, how stupid she and the DUP have been. The expected standards in NI are so low that if she'd just apologised for the fuckup she'd have been fine. She would have got away with it dead easy if she'd done even the bare minimum. Instead she's basically forced SFs hand, and Christ knows they tried their best to keep things propped up as long as possible. And probably thrown away 4 more years of petition of concerning for the DUP too. Not sure they'll get 30 now.

[hollyisalovelyname]

Did the people of NI vote to remain?
If so perhaps they want a Remainer as First Minister and there are all sorts of shenanigans going on in the background.
We don't know the half of what goes on.

[SilentBatperson]

They did indeed, convincingly so. 56-44.

[harrietm87]

I don't think it's anything to do with Brexit. And it's a shame for Northern Ireland that at a time when they should be positioning themselves as best they can to deal with the inevitable brexit fallout, instead the government is a total shambles as a result of our standard political combo of incompetence, corruption and greed.