THE SDLP is to table a motion of no confidence to exclude Arlene Foster as first minister while she faces questions over her role in a failed renewable heat incentive scheme.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has said this evening that after two weeks of “ducking and dodging serious questions” Mrs. Foster “has lost the confidence of the public and of the Assembly and must now stand aside or face exclusion from office while she faces questions about her conduct.”

The SDLP leader has called on Sinn Féin members to sign the motion and "step out of the shadow of the DUP and to stand with the public who are demanding accountability.”

Mr. Eastwood said: “In light of the first minister’s continued failure to answer the most serious questions about the biggest public finance scandal in the history of devolution, it’s clear that the matter has to be forced.

“The SDLP will table a motion of no confidence to exclude Arlene Foster as first minister while she continues to face these critical questions and until she has accounted for her conduct in relation to the Renewable Heat Incentive fiasco”

The SDLP is to table an emergency motion for the recall of the Assembly and the exclusion of the first minister.

“I am calling on Sinn Féin to support our stance and sign up to these motions which will begin to restore confidence in politics here.

"They have a choice. They can stand with the us and with the public who are demanding the highest standard of accountability or they can continue to stand in the shadow of the DUP, propping up a first minister who treats accountability with disdain,” said Mr. Eastwood.