‘Those responsible for RHI scandal must be held to account’ – Murphy

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said that the key issue remains to get to the truth of the RHI scandal, and to hold those responsible to account.

Speaking to Newry Times, Murphy said, “Sinn Féin has consistently called for the need to get to the truth of the RHI scandal and to hold those responsible to account.

“Central to this was the independence of any process. We had proposed Terms of Reference for an independent judge-led investigation, free from ministerial control and with the powers to compel witnesses and evidence. This would have required new legislation. This option is not now possible within the short days before the Assembly closes for the election.

“The public interest demands that this issue is dealt with particularly in light of the continuing revelations of DUP political interference in the implementation of the RHI scheme. In order to get to the truth of the matter, Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has announced a Public Inquiry under the 2005 Act. The shortcomings of this Act are well known,” he insisted.

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“Therefore to address these shortcomings, once established the minister will leave the inquiry entirely in the hands of the judicial figure. The investigation team and judicial figure will have absolute control over the scope and execution of the inquiry and will put the report into the public domain.

“In any new term of the Assembly Sinn Féin will bring forward the legislation we had developed to establish investigations independent of Ministers with powers of compellability.

Murphy added, “The key issue remains to get to the truth of the RHI scandal, and to hold those responsible to account. The public interest must come first.”

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