Arlene Foster ceased to be First Minister, at least temporarily, on 17 January 2017, after deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned and Sinn Féin refused to nominate a replacement. This caused the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
McGuinness and his party are effectively refusing to work with Foster and the DUP until the enquiry into the so–called 'Ash for Cash' scandal is complete. This centres on a failed renewable energy incentive scheme, under which businesses and other non–domestic users were paid for using renewable energy (including biomass boilers, solar pumps and heat pumps). Successful applicants were paid £1.60 for every £1 spent on heating, meaning that applicants were making money simply by heating their properties. There were reports of claims for heating properties, for example farm buildings, that had previously been unheated.
The scheme came into operation in 2012, and was closed in February 2016. Arlene Foster had been Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment at the time it was set up. She has been accused of failing to introduce proper controls, allowing costs to spiral; it has been estimated that the scheme will cost the public purse around half a billion pounds. Arlene Foster, for her part, has described those calling for her resignation as misogynists and male chauvinists.
An election was arranged for 2 March.
This question was asked in MQL on 24 January 2017 – one week after the collapse of the Assembly – illustrating the importance of giving dates when setting questions about current affairs, including political appointments.
© Macclesfield Quiz League 2017