Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster is feeling the heat from the controversial Renewable Heat Initiative (RHI) scheme. The big beneficiary of the scheme is effectively Moy Park, the major poultry processor and NI’s largest private sector employer with almost 6,500 staff.

Whatever flaws there are in the structure of the scheme, we have to be mindful of the lobbying power of the region’s biggest private sector employer. With the government at Stormont looking at ways to cut costs, it would be unfortunate if legitimate businesses making good use of renewable heat (such as Moy Park growers) are forced to pay the price for the lack of controls that have allowed a small number to abuse the scheme.

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