Election is unfair on Foster because voters will not know RHI facts

The public inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will start after the March 2 election so voters on March 2 will be unaware of the findings of the public inquiry and be unable to make informed judgements so the March 2 election will be premature and undemocratic.

The March 2 election will enable republicans to portray Arlene Foster as solely responsible for the failed RHI scheme before the findings of the inquiry are public. The public cost of the RHI scheme should be seen in a wider context.

The Deloitte Report in 2007 estimated that the cost to the taxpayer of our divided society is up to £1.5 billion per year.

In the 1970s the introduction of internment provoked a rent and rates strike which cost the British government over £700 million.

Alan Dunwoody, Belfast BT5