A claim that records were not taken of official Stormont meetings in case they were later released to the public is nonsense, Arlene Foster has said. The lack of notes was "shocking" and worrying but concern over Freedom of Information (FoI) requests and related political sensitivities did not influence that, the DUP leader added. Former enterprise minister Mrs Foster was in charge of planning of the botched green energy scheme in 2012 and told the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) public inquiry in Belfast she was unaware notes had not been taken. DUP leader Arlene Foster giving evidence during an inquiry into Stormont's botched green energy scheme. Mrs Foster said she did not know the overall cost of the RHI scheme when she approved it in 2012, but denied signing a "blank cheque".

Source: Evening echo April 18, 2018 15:45 UTC