On the eve of today's election, Peter Robinson re-emerges

In an unusual 1,200-word article on his personal Facebook page, the former DUP leader said that he had resisted the temptation to comment publicly until recent events meant that “my concern for the very existence of the institutions is greater than my desire for a quiet retirement”.

Reminding the public that when he left office the Fresh Start agreement was in place and the DUP and Sinn Fein were working together, he said that this election is now “one of constitutional importance” and warned that “the consequences of regression are many and may well be catastrophic”.

Mr Robinson’s comments come after overnight viewing figures showed that a massive audience watched Tuesday night’s final pre-election leaders’ debate, in what might be a sign that turnout is about to increase when people go to the polls today.

And, in another eve of election development a judge ruled that there is nothing to stop Economy Minister Simon Hamilton publishing the names of businesses who are RHI claimants.

However, last night Mr Hamilton’s department did not use the legal ruling to publish the names before the election but instead said that it would do so “as soon as possible”.

In a statement released through a public relations firm, the Renewable Heat Association, which brought the court case, appeared to suggest that the media should not publish RHI claimants’ names even when they are released by the department.

The RHA stressed that “the simple publication of names is, in no way, evidence of wrongdoing” and that most claimants are entirely operating within the rules of the scheme.

In his Facebook article, Mr Robinson said that last year’s election in which the DUP and Sinn Fein had emerged dominant within unionism and nationalism respectively had meant that there should have been five years in which “Northern Ireland should have been benefiting from a settled political environment with politicians working to deliver”.

He said there was “no question that mistakes were made with the renewable heat scheme – that much everyone agrees” but said that around the world mistakes in government schemes happen “without it amounting to a crisis with the potential of bringing down the political institutions”.

Mr Robinson said that “if culpability and claims of wrongdoing at any level are sustained, then the inquiry judge should recommend sanctions as appropriate”.

However, Mr Robinson said that there was no need for an election prior to that process concluding.

The DUP veteran said that instead “we have had an increasingly fractious contest that has further divided and limited the ability to rebuild the political institutions”.

And the former First Minister, who worked closely with Martin McGuinness over the course of eight years in Stormont Castle, said that “I cannot help feeling, no matter what now will be said, that had Martin McGuinness been in good health a breakdown would have been avoided”.

He went on: “As it is, the more belligerent elements in Sinn Fein have seized their opportunity and are seeking to advance their agenda regardless of imperilling the political structures.