Mr Justice Donnell Deeny held it would be in the public interest for Economy Minister Simon Hamilton to name companies benefiting from the scheme, though maintained an injunction on naming individual benefactors.

An injunction secured by the Renewable Heat Association for Northern Ireland (RHANI), which represents those in the renewable heat industry, expired at 3pm yesterday. RHANI did notseek an extension to the injunction, which only applied to RHANI members.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Economy told The Irish News that it will “publish information as soon as is practical and all details are checked and released in line with the court decision”.

When polls close in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections at 10pm tonight, the decision on publication will fall from Mr Hamilton to Andrew McCormick, the Department’s permanent secretary.

It will remain so until the Assembly elects a new Economy Minister.