Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Watch Martin McGuinness' resignation statement in full

Martin McGuinness has resigned as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister in protest against the handling of a botched energy scheme that could cost taxpayers £490m.

He cited the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) conduct over the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme scandal as the main reason.

The Sinn Féin MLA's decision to quit is likely to lead to a snap election.

Outgoing First Minister Arlene Foster said his move was "not principled".

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Outgoing First Minister Arlene Foster responded to the resignation in a statement released on Facebook

Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, Mrs Foster loses her first minister role with the departure of the deputy first minister, and she said she was "disappointed" by his move.

"At a time when we are dealing with Brexit, needing to create more jobs and investing in our health and education system, Northern Ireland needs stability," she said in a statement posted on her Facebook page.

"But because of Sinn Féin's selfish reactions, we now have instability.

"This is not an election of our making, but the DUP will always defend unionism and stand up for what is best for Northern Ireland."

'Conflict of interest'

The RHI scandal has been centre stage in politics in Northern Ireland over the past month, with DUP leader Mrs Foster facing repeated calls to resign, all of which she has rejected.

Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Martin McGuinness said the time was right to "call a halt to the DUP's arrogance"

She set up the RHI scheme in 2012 when she was enterprise minister in an attempt by the Northern Ireland Executive to encourage production of heat from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels.

But flaws in setting the scheme's subsidy rate left it open to abuse as claimants could earn more cash the more fuel they burned, with the overspend estimated to be almost half-a-billion pounds.

Mr McGuinness said Mrs Foster had a "clear conflict of interest" in the scandal position was "not credible or tenable".

"Today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP's arrogance," he said.

People should be allowed "to make their own judgement on these issues democratically at the ballot box", added Mr McGuinness.

Prime Minister Theresa May has been updated on the resignation, Downing Street said.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption What happens now the deputy first minister has resigned?

Speculation has surrounded Mr McGuinness' health since he cancelled a planned trip to China with Mrs Foster last month on medical advice.

Sinn Féin has not disclosed details of his recent illness, but Irish national broadcaster RTÉ reports that he has a rare heart condition.

He said his health had "nothing to do" with his decision to quit.

'Inflicting enormous damage'

In his resignation letter, Mr McGuinness said the DUP's handling of the RHI affair has been "completely out of step with [the] public mood".

He said people were "rightly outraged at the squandering of public money", and the DUP was refusing to accept demands for "robust action and accountability".

"The refusal of Arlene Foster to recognise the public anger or to exhibit any humility in the context of the RHI scandal is indicative of a deep-seated arrogance, which is inflicting enormous damage on the executive, the assembly and the entire body politic," he added.

Image caption Martin McGuinness' resignation means Northern Ireland looks likely to face a snap election

Analysis: Mark Devenport, BBC News NI political editor

Under the joint protocols that govern Stormont's power-sharing government, Martin McGuinness' resignation means First Minister Arlene Foster also loses her office.

She may continue to exercise some functions, but her role will be very limited.

Sinn Féin has seven days to nominate a new deputy first minister, but the party is adamant it will not replace him.

Read more: When he goes, she goes

Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Martin McGuinness has been at the top of politics in Northern Ireland since he agreed to share power with Ian Paisley 10 years ago

An election could be called next week if Sinn Féin does not nominate a replacement as deputy first minister, and Mr McGuinness has said the party will not do that.

The veteran republican had been deputy first minister since the DUP and Sinn Féin made a historic agreement to share power in 2007.

But he said a number of issues in recent years had "raised all sorts of questions" about the behaviour of his party's partners in government.

'Deepens this crisis'

Allegations linking the DUP to other financial scandals, as well as a failure to approve funding for inquests into killings during Northern Ireland's Troubles and a recent decision to end funding for an Irish language project were "critical issues" for his party.

"There will be no return to the status quo except on terms that are acceptable to Sinn Féin," the Foyle MLA told reporters at Stormont.

But DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the deputy first minister had stepped down "in a way to deepen this crisis".

"It's in everyone's interests to try and pull back from the brink on this one and find a solution," he added.

"We have worked very hard to try and achieve that including the offer of a full public inquiry."

'Led from front'

Stormont's opposition parties were quick to react, with Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt saying Sinn Féin was "letting the DUP off the hook" by not pressing for a public inquiry into the RHI scandal.

Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Mike Nesbitt said moving to an election before an inquiry in to the RHI scandal was "farcical"

Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood said Sinn Féin were "only now waking up to the reality that the DUP have been running rings around them in government".

But Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams TD said his party colleague had "led from the front in the executive for the last 10 years" and "always put the people and the political process first".

Justice Minister Claire Sugden said the DUP and Sinn Féin's "inability to work together" is a "fundamental flaw", and would "continue to burden the people of Northern Ireland".

"A reasonable resolution could have been achieved, which leads me to believe that this crisis goes beyond RHI and points to a more intractable situation," she said.

DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he was unsure whether power sharing could be restored in Northern Ireland even after an election.

He told RTÉ he was "not convinced" that coalition government could happen in the next few months, adding that an election would not resolve the issues.

Sinn Féin's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said that power sharing could be restored if "the DUP commit to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement".

"We will never rebuild credibility in these institutions unless we commit again to the promise, to the principles and to the parity of esteem that is at the very foundation and root of the Good Friday Agreement," he said.

He accused the DUP of "trampling" on the agreement.</s>MARTIN McGuinness is to resign as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest to the DUP’s handling of the renewable heat incentive (RHI) crisis.

The senior Sinn Féin member will formally resign at 5pm today, which will automatically trigger an election in Northern Ireland.

In a statement McGuinness said his resignation was “in protest” at the DUP’s failure to accept the principles of power sharing and parity of esteem and their handling of the RHI crisis.

“Over the last 10 years I have worked with DUP leaders and reached out to unionists on the basis of equality, respect and reconciliation,” McGuinness said.

“Over this period the actions of the British Government and the DUP have undermined the institutions and eroded public confidence. Sinn Féin will not tolerate the arrogance of Arlene Foster and the DUP.

“Sinn Féin wants equality and respect for all. That is what this process must be about. Today I tendered my resignation.

“Today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP’s arrogance. There will be no return to the status quo.”

The RHI was set up by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) under the stewardship of Mrs Foster in 2012 to encourage businesses and other non-domestic users to move from using fossil fuels to renewable heating systems.

While the NI Executive were attempting to increase consumption of heat from renewable sources, flaws in the scheme’s subsidy rate left it open to abuse as claimants could earn more money the more fuel they burned.

Speaking of the RHI on Saturday, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams called on the DUP leader to step aside.

“There is a worsening crisis in the political institutions surrounding the Renewable Heat Incentive and serious allegations of corruption, fraud, and incompetence associated with the scheme. Arlene Foster insists she will not step aside. This is unacceptable.

“The DUP leader has a clear conflict of interest. She was the Minister responsible for the RHI scheme from its inception. Mrs Foster also oversaw its operation for almost three years as Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Investment.

“She approved the RHI scheme without cost controls and took the decision to strip these controls out of the scheme.

“Her Department had been warned a year before the scheme was set up by energy companies and by the Ulster Farmers Union that there was a need for cost controls and caps on payments.

“The failure to act on these warnings and the stripping out of cost controls has led to the largest potential loss to the taxpayer of any government scheme in the history of the northern state.”

Arlene Foster told The Impartial Reporter today that the DUP wants to work with Sinn Féin on an inquiry into the RHI, but they are holding it back.

“There are some elements that we can certainly work with [with Sinn Fein]. That’s the frustrating thing: we want to see an independent inquiry probably more than anyone because we have absolutely nothing to hide in respect of this.

“But they [Sinn Fein] are preventing that inquiry getting up and running because of their ludicrous demand that I have to step aside for four weeks.

“So it is they who are holding back the inquiry and that’s very regrettable and I hope they reflect on that now and take that nonsense out of the terms of reference and let us get on with an independent inquiry,” she said.

On Friday, January 8, Ms Foster also released a statement that said: “There has been much talk from my political opponents about accountability for the RHI scheme and its out workings [..]

“My position has been, and remains, that I am content to be held to account for my actions as a Minister.”

Tweeting about McGuinness’s protest resignation this afternoon, Gerry Adams said: “Ten years of valiant series in Office of First and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness signs resignation letter.

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said he regretted the circumstances which have lead to Martin McGuinness’ resignation.

“I regret the circumstances which have led to the decision of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to resign his office.

“The substance of the RHI controversy is very much a matter for the devolved Executive and Assembly.

“However, the Government is very mindful of the need to protect the integrity of the principles and institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.

“In this regard, both the effective functioning of those institutions and respecting the principles of partnership and equality are of critical importance.

“If, as appears likely, new elections to the Assembly will now be required, it behoves all parties to act responsibly in word and deed, so that the political institutions of the Agreement will not be damaged in the longer term.

“I have spoken this afternoon to the Deputy First Minister and to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish Government will continue to work with the British Government and the political parties to advance political stability, reconciliation and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland.”

Martin McGuinness was the MP for Mid Ulster from 1997 until his resignation in 2013.

He became Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on May 8 2007, with the Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley becoming First Minister.

On June 5 2008 he was re-appointed as deputy First Minister to serve alongside Peter Robinson, who succeeded Paisley as First Minister.</s>Martin McGuinness has announced his resignation as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest at the Democratic Unionist Party's handling of a botched renewable energy scheme.

The Sinn Fein veteran's move, which will come into effect at 5pm on Monday, is likely to lead to a snap Assembly election in the region.

Mr McGuinness announced his decision after his partner in government, DUP First Minister Arlene Foster, repeatedly refused to step down to facilitate a probe into the ill-fated Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - a scheme that has left Stormont facing a £490 million overspend.

Mr McGuinness said he was resigning with "deep regret and reluctance".

"The First Minister has refused to stand aside, without prejudice, pending a preliminary report from an investigation.

"That position is not credible or tenable."

He made clear that Sinn Fein would not replace him in the role.

As a consequence, the collapse of the institutions and an election are now inevitable.

"We now need an election to allow the people to make their own judgment on these issues democratically, at the ballot box," he said.

Mrs Foster presided over the ill-fated RHI while economy minister.

She has steadfastly refused to accede to Sinn Fein's demand for her to step aside to facilitate an inquiry into her actions.

The fate of the current DUP/Sinn Fein administration in Belfast now hangs on the pivotal issue of whether or not she will stand down.

The state-funded RHI was supposed to offer a proportion of the cost businesses had to pay to run eco-friendly boilers, but the subsidy tariffs were set too high and, without a cap, it ended up paying out significantly more than the price of fuel.

This enabled applicants to "burn to earn" - getting free heat and making a profit as they did so.

Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around £1 million in the next two decades for heating an empty shed.

Mr McGuinness's move comes hours after Mrs Foster accused him of playing a political game of chicken and warned she would not blink first.

"If he is playing a game of chicken, if Sinn Fein are playing a game of chicken, and they think we are going to blink in relation to me stepping aside they are wrong - I won't be stepping aside," she said.

"And if there is an election, there is an election."

While Sinn Fein had been due to formally call for Mrs Foster to step down in an Assembly debate next week, there had been speculation the party would pull the plug earlier.

Mr McGuinness, who has been experiencing health problems, confirmed that on Monday afternoon.

"It is my firm view that the DUP's handling of this issue has been completely out of step with a public mood which is rightly outraged at the squandering of public money and the allegations of misconduct and corruption," he wrote in his resignation letter to the Assembly's speaker.

"The public are demanding robust action and accountability but the DUP, in particular its leader Arlene Foster, have refused to accept this."

The structure of Stormont's Executive Office means a First Minister cannot hold the position without a co-equal Deputy First Minister. Mr McGuinness's resignation means Mrs Foster will no longer be First Minister.

Mr McGuinness, his voice cracking, said he had informed Mrs Foster of his decision at 1.30pm on Monday.

"We in Sinn Fein will not tolerate the arrogance of Arlene Foster and the DUP," he said

"I believe today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP's arrogance."

The Sinn Fein veteran said his health had not influenced his decision and said he had been deeply involved in his party's response to the affair.

"My health is absolutely nothing to do with this whatsoever," he said.

He said a decision on whether he would stand in the next election was an issue for "a later date".

Mr McGuinness cited other disputes with the DUP, including over the Irish language and stalled mechanisms to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, in explaining the move.

He said the DUP were living in a "Fool's Paradise" if they thought they would be able to return to government with Sinn Fein after an election if the RHI issue was not resolved.

Theresa May's official spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister has been kept updated on the resignation of Martin McGuinness.

"The Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire is in contact with people there, encouraging all parties to continue the dialogue."</s>Martin McGuinness is to resign as Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive in protest at the Democratic Unionist Party’s handling of a botched renewable energy scheme.

The move means there will almost certainly now be fresh elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Under the rules of the power sharing arrangement between the nationalists and the unionists if either the first minister or deputy first minister quits then the administration collapses.

DUP First Minister Arlene Foster has been facing calls to resign after becoming engulfed in a scandal over the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme that could cost Northern Irish taxpayers £490m.

The RHI, set up by Foster in 2012, was intended to encourage the use of renewable energy but people who applied received more in subsidies than the cost of fuel.

In a statement, McGuinness said: “The first minister has refused to stand aside, without prejudice, pending a preliminary report from an investigation. That position is not credible or tenable,” he said in his resignation letter.

“It is with deep regret and reluctance that I am tendering my resignation as deputy first minister with effect from 5pm on Monday, 9th January 2017.”</s>Martin McGuinness has announced his resignation as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest at the Democratic Unionist Party's handling of a botched renewable energy scheme.

The Sinn Fein veteran's move, which will come into effect at 5pm on Monday, is likely to lead to a snap Assembly election in the region.

Mr McGuinness announced his decision after his partner in government, DUP First Minister Arlene Foster, repeatedly refused to step down to facilitate a probe into the ill-fated Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - a scheme that has left Stormont facing a £490 million overspend.

Mr McGuinness said he was resigning with "deep regret and reluctance".

"The First Minister has refused to stand aside, without prejudice, pending a preliminary report from an investigation.

"That position is not credible or tenable."

He made clear that Sinn Fein would not replace him in the role.

As a consequence, the collapse of the institutions and an election are now inevitable.

"We now need an election to allow the people to make their own judgment on these issues democratically, at the ballot box," he said.

Mrs Foster presided over the ill-fated RHI while economy minister.

She has steadfastly refused to accede to Sinn Fein's demand for her to step aside to facilitate an inquiry into her actions.

The fate of the current DUP/Sinn Fein administration in Belfast now hangs on the pivotal issue of whether or not she will stand down.

The state-funded RHI was supposed to offer a proportion of the cost businesses had to pay to run eco-friendly boilers, but the subsidy tariffs were set too high and, without a cap, it ended up paying out significantly more than the price of fuel.

This enabled applicants to "burn to earn" - getting free heat and making a profit as they did so.

Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around £1 million in the next two decades for heating an empty shed.</s>Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, resigns from office in protest over the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) conduct over the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. Speaking to BBC News on Monday, McGuinness told reporters he had tendered his resignation, effective as of 5pm on Monday – a move likely to lead to a Northern Ireland assembly election
• Martin McGuinness resigns as deputy first minister of Northern Ireland</s>Martin McGuinness has announced his resignation as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest at the Democratic Unionist Party's handling of a botched renewable energy scheme.

The Sinn Fein veteran's move, which will come into effect at 5pm on Monday, is likely to lead to a snap Assembly election in the region.

Mr McGuinness announced his decision after his partner in government, DUP First Minister Arlene Foster, repeatedly refused to step down to facilitate a probe into the ill-fated Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - a scheme that has left Stormont facing a £490 million overspend.</s>Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned from his post on Monday in protest over differences with his power-sharing government partners.

The nationalist (Sinn Féin party) deputy leader resigned in protest at his power-sharing government partners' handling of a botched energy scheme (known as the 'Renewable Heat Incentive').

His resignation plunged Northern Ireland's government into crisis amid already deep tensions with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

In a letter to the Northern Ireland Assembly, he said that Sinn Fein intends to trigger early elections.

The government, formed in 2007 under the terms of Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace agreement, requires support from Sinn Fein and the major Unionist-backed party, the DUP, to survive.

Calls on First Minister Foster to resign

McGuinness's Sinn Fein party had called on First Minister Arlene Foster of the DUP to step aside while an investigation takes place into the controversial scheme it says could cost taxpayers £490 million.

McGuinness argued that Foster has a "clear conflict of interest" in the RHI scandal and her position is "not credible or tenable".

"The First Minister has refused to stand aside. Therefore it is with deep regret and reluctance that I am tendering my resignation as deputy First Minister. We now need an election to allow the people to make their own judgement," McGuinness said in a statement.

McGuinness added in his resignation letter, “Apart from the negative attitude toward nationalism and to the Irish identity and culture, there has been a shameful disrespect towards any other sections of our community,”

"Women, the LGBT community and ethnic minorities have all felt this prejudice. And for those who wish to live their lives through the medium of Irish. Elements in the DUP have exhibited the most crude and crass bigotry," he said.</s>The former deputy First Minister explains why it’s time to go.

Martin McGuinness announces his resignation as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest at the Democratic Unionist Party’s handling of a botched renewable energy scheme.</s>Martin McGuinness is to resign at 5pm on Monday as deputy first minister of the Northern Ireland executive in protest against the Democratic Unionist party’s handling of a botched renewable energy scheme, Sinn Féin has said.

In a letter to the speaker of the Northern Ireland assembly, McGuinness said Arlene Foster’s decision not to stand aside over the affair was “not credible or tenable”. He added that Sinn Féin would not nominate a replacement and that there should now be an election.
Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin resigns as the NI deputy first minister in protest of handling by the Democratic Unionist Party of a failed energy scheme that cost Northern Irish taxpayers £490 million. His decision will likely lead to a snap election.