The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has slammed Justice Minister Claire Sugden over her "silence" in relation to the botched Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme.

An investigation by Spotlight revealed several errors in the scheme which will cost the public purse over £400million.

UUP Justice spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, said to have no opinion on the RHI fiasco makes her irrelevant within the Execuitve.

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He said: "The silence from the Justice Minister cannot be justified. At least Sinn Fein have said something even if it only is to demonstrate weakness in the face of the DUP's gross incompetence which will result in every man, woman and child enduring further cuts to public service funding.

"But the Justice Minister, who holds a pivotal role in the Executive, has said nothing. No statements, no tweets, no Facebook messages. As her colleague, Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir famously said 'none, zilch, nada, nothing'.

"I have huge regard for the Justice Minister and understand the difficult role she has as an independent MLA – but to have no opinion on the RHI fiasco makes her irrelevant within the Executive and to prop up an Executive with no public confidence makes her part of the problem."

(CD)