FORMER First Minister Arlene Foster advertised herself as a £10,000 renewable energy expert, it has been revealed. 

An agency advertising Baroness Foster as a corporate speaker was recently contacted by the Belfast Telegraph, and a cost of £10,000 a day was quoted in exchange for her services as a speaker at a fictitious conference on green energy. 

This is despite her involvement in the botched Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) scheme, which was set up without cost controls under Foster's watch. 

The scheme's vast overspending caused controversy and exposed incompetence within the Stormont system, with Baroness Foster later admitting that she hadn't read the legislation that she had asked MLAs to pass into law. 

According to the Belfast Telegraph, which contacted the agency claiming to seek Baroness Foster's services, guideline fees to hire the former politician as speaker is between £2,500 and £5,000 a time. 

However, a quote of £6,250 with VAT and travel costs on top was provided for the former First Minister to speak and take questions for 90 minutes. 

A follow up quote revealed that to hire the former DUP leader for a full day would cost "in the region of £10,000", but this could be "slightly more depending on exact requirements".

A pitch on the agency's website, which has now been removed, said: "As the ex-minister of Energy for Northern Ireland Arlene knows only too well the difference between what the world needs and the price we are prepared to pay".

Her suggested speaking topics include "getting to the right decision", which includes "understanding the culture and trying to manage change in a way which brings other with you who may be opposed to you initially".

Baroness Foster is a columnist with the Impartial Reporter.