Eastwood calls on McGuinness to join him in demanding Arlene Foster appears before Public Accounts Committee over scandal-ridden Renewable Incentive Scheme

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has called on Deputy First Martin McGuinness to join him in demanding First Minister Arlene Foster appears before the Public Accounts Committee to answer questions over the scandal-ridden Renewable Energy Incentive Scheme

Mr Eastwood has also called for an Assembly convention that allows Ministers to escape scrutiny from the Committee to be waived, leaving no impediment to Ms Foster (pictured) accounting for the scheme.

Calling on the Sinn Fein Foyle MLA to stand with him in demanding the highest standard of accountability, Mr Eastwood said the enormity of the mismanagement, the overspend and the incompetence involved in the scheme demanded the “highest level of political accountability.”

Mr Eastwood added: “The unwritten convention which allows Ministers to duck tough questions should be no impediment to transparency on this issue. And the First Minister cannot use it as a shield to deflect legitimate public interest scrutiny.

“Only in October, Minister Michael Noonan waived a similar convention to appear before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committees to answer questions on the NAMA scandal.

“There is no reason why Arlene Foster cannot do the same. In circumstances which involve a scandal of this scale - conventions are there to be broken.

“She should end her silence following the Spotlight programme and face up to her legacy of mismanagement and waste.

“Her partners in Government Sinn Féin also have a particular responsibility to pressure the First Minister into appearing before the PAC.”

Mr Eastwood concluded: “Martin McGuinness should join with me in calling publically for Arlene Foster to attend the committee and to answer questions. He should make that public call today.