How a green energy scheme triggered the collapse of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Arlene Foster, the first woman to serve as First Minister of Northern Ireland, saw her political career defined by both historic milestones and a catastrophic financial scandal. The Renewable Heat Incentive, a green energy project she initiated, ultimately forced her from office and plunged the region into years of political deadlock.

Arlene Foster’s political trajectory was marked by significant shifts and intense controversy. Born in 1970 in County Fermanagh, she began her career within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) before defecting to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in 2004. By 2016, she had ascended to the role of First Minister, leading a power-sharing executive alongside deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. Her tenure was immediately challenged by the 'Cash for Ash' scandal, which centered on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme she had established while serving as Minister for Enterprise and Investment.

The RHI scheme, intended to promote renewable heating, became a financial disaster. It was projected to cost taxpayers £490 million, with an independent audit later revealing that half of the 300 sites investigated showed issues, including 14 cases of suspected serious fraud. Critics alleged that Foster personally campaigned to keep the scheme open even after civil servants warned of a massive overspend. The resulting political fallout led to McGuinness’s resignation in January 2017, which automatically triggered the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive under the terms of their power-sharing agreement.

The collapse initiated a period of profound instability, including a snap assembly election in 2017 where the DUP lost 10 seats. Foster faced further pressure during this time, including controversy over her comparison of Sinn Féin’s demands to feeding a crocodile. Although she returned as First Minister in 2020 under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, her leadership faced internal dissent. In April 2021, following a letter of no confidence signed by over 20 DUP MLAs and four MPs, she announced her resignation. She left office in June 2021, ending a career that spanned the complexities of the Troubles, the Brexit negotiations, and the volatile dynamics of Northern Irish governance.

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