Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA has welcomed the passage of the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill through its Final Stage in the Assembly.

Diana Armstrong MLA said:

"Closing the RHI scheme is a necessary step, but it must be the first step in a much larger journey. Accepting closure is not an admission of defeat, it is an acceptance of reality and an opportunity to move forward.

"I want to acknowledge those boiler owners who participated in good faith and were penalised by a scheme that was badly designed from the outset. They deserved better, and I trust that the Committee's efforts to recognise the need for restitution will be of some comfort.

"The closure of RHI opens the door to the Renewable Energy Price Guarantee scheme, which must be designed with proper scrutiny, robust modelling and transparent governance. But a new scheme alone will not be enough. Northern Ireland urgently needs a credible renewable energy policy framework, one that addresses grid capacity, offshore wind and long-term energy planning.

"Investors are already looking to jurisdictions with clear pathways for clean energy expansion. If we do not act quickly, they will go elsewhere. Let us ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated and the opportunities of the future are not missed."