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Martin McGuinness has tonight told Arlene Foster she needs to “stand aside from the role as First Minister” while an investigation is launched into the RHI scandal.

The Deputy First Minister said he has spoken to the DUP leader and “outlined my serious concern that the credibility of the political institutions is being undermined by the serious and ongoing allegations surrounding the design, operation, abuse and ending of the Renewable Heating Incentive Scheme”.

The move came in the wake of mounting pressure on Mrs Foster after DUP MLA Jonathan Bell claimed DUP advisers pushed for a delay in changes to the RHI scheme in a move that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds.

Mr McGuinness added: “This scheme has directly impacted on the public purse. Taxpayers’ money wasted in this scheme, needs to be retrieved.

“It is my belief the only way to establish the truth, and rebuild the reputation of the institutions, is to urgently establish a fully independent investigation into this matter.

“In addition, I also said that, in the public interest, she should stand aside from the role as First Minister while that investigation is underway and at least until an initial assessment had been concluded into the veracity of all the allegations.

“That is what I would do if I was in this situation. I asked the First Minister to take the time and consider this suggestion carefully.”

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Mrs Foster said on Friday that she is “looking forward to all the paperwork coming out” and that “the truth will out”.

She added that she is to make a statement to the Assembly on Monday when an SDLP motion of no confidence in her as First Minister is to be debated.

And in a brief statement issued tonight, a DUP spokesman said the "First Minister will not be stepping aside, but instead is focused on ensuring the full facts about this issue emerge and proposals are brought forward which can make a significant reduction in the future financial burden the Executive would face".

They added: "The First Minister does not take her instructions from Sinn Fein, but from the electorate.”

Alliance Leader Naomi Long has said the First Minister should step aside while an independent inquiry establishes the facts around the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

She added: “The interviews given by the First Minister and Jonathan Bell raise more questions than they answer. They are internally inconsistent, as well as conflicting with each other.

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“Given the limitations which we have seen previously with Public Accounts Committee inquiries and the significant sums of public money involved, we believe that an independent judge led inquiry may now be the only means of establishing the objective facts in a manner which is capable of restoring public confidence in the devolved institutions.”

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt has also called for more facts to be established.

He added: “Mrs Foster must now release every scrap of paper, but I suspect she will not, because I think it is inevitable there is evidence that contradicts her public position. As the first party to call for her resignation, we will support the SDLP motion calling for her to stand aside when the Assembly is recalled on Monday.”