20/07/2011 BBC Newsline

Accident and emergency service says looks set to go. I will have the

latest details. The Taoiseach it launches a

scathing attack on the Vatican. first time in this country, child

sex so abuse exposes a approach to frustrate an inquiry.

A woman is in court charged in connection with the rape attack in

Lurgan. Why supermarket profits could put

up the price of cutting corporation tax.

How much are you willing to pay for a plastic bag?

And to temperatures are on the rise. Not a heap white, but more some

Allied. The health minister has given a

strong indication that A&E services are likely to close. Belfast has

three hospitals, all with A&E services. They are located one mile

from each other, with the Westlink connecting all three. Our political

reporter has more. The health minister, Edwin Poots, came to

Stormont to brief members. He talked about resources, the

shortage of junior doctors, and then he came to this issue of the

house -- services across Belfast. He explained that of the three

hospitals in Belfast, only three could provide accident and

emergency services. This will have to be consulted on. This will not

lead to job losses, it is not about saving money, it is about offering

the quality of service in the City of Belfast, where they do not need

three accidents and emergencies within one-and-a-half miles of each

other. Ultimately, we believe we can deliver better outcomes.

He talks about rationalisation. But what about that change?

timescale will be very quick. There will be a consultation process in

August. Then the hope for the health minister is that these

changes can come into place in the autumn.

That attack by the Taoiseach on the Catholic Church. He has accused the

hierarchy of downplaying the rape of children. Edwin Poots described

the culture of the Vatican as narcissistic. He was speaking in a

Dail debate. It found that the then Bishop, John Magee, had ignored the

church's reporting guidelines. Jenifer, this is unprecedented and

savage in its strength. blistering attack. You might well

ask, why are Irish politicians so vexed at the Vatican? In 1997, the

Vatican's diplomat Ireland, wrote to Irish bishops, advising them

that reporting of abuse allegations could beat contrary to law. That

intervention was a code red moment. It gave individual bishops the

freedom to ignore a child protection guidelines. Today, the

Taoiseach outlined why the report was different to other reports. For

the first time in this country eight report into his sexual abuse

exposes abuse. The report highlights a elitism that dominates

the culture of the Vatican today. The rape and torture of children

were downplayed, and managed to uphold instead the primacy of the

institution, its power, its standing, and his reputation.

People are waiting for bated breath for a response from the Church?

reaction yet. But there has been a statement from a Vatican spokesman.

He made his comments in a personal capacity. He what -- he said there

was nothing that encouraged British troops to break Irish law. How

could it? There was no civil law at that stage. The Irish justice

minister described those comments as disingenuous. They also asked

the Justice Minister to consider a corporation into any future

inquiries. There is a feeling that this tone of attack is in keeping

with what the Brumby St are thinking? People are angry and

dismayed about what the Cloyne report has uncovered. But

everything lead back to the victims. They are the people whose lives

have been made toxic by the abuse of people who use their status of

clergy to carry out abuse. The Taoiseach acknowledged it could

take the victims and their families a lifetime to pick up the pieces of

their shattered existence. A man has been arrested in Lurgan

in connection with the investigation into a rape and

assault. Earlier today, the Gulf and they suspect was in court,

accused of lying to the police, and helping her boyfriend to avoid

arrest. A Lithuanian woman was raped by three men during the

incident. Our district journalist reports.

This is B33 year-old Lithuanian. The Gulf under their man described

by the police as a key suspect in the alleged gang rape of a woman in

Lurgan. It is alleged that he and at least two other men raped their

victim repeatedly. It is also alleged that they assaulted A23

year-old man. Around teatime on Wednesday, she drove the female

victim to Lurgan police station. The following day, the police

called at her home, looking for her boyfriend. But he had already left.

The next day, Friday, she again called the Lurgan police station.

This time she brought with her bloodstained clothing. Again, she

left, but that evening, the police phoned her. On Monday, she called

the police station for a third time. This time, she was arrested. It was

only after her first encounter with the police that the male victim was

found. He remains in a critical condition in hospital. She admits

she gave the police a false name. She also admits she helped her

boyfriend fleet, but claims she did this because she was scared of him.

She denies an accusation but she send text messages to the victim.

She says her phone it must have been used by somebody else. This

evening, the police said they arrested a man on suspicion of

attempted murder. She was refused bail, and will appear in court next

Friday. The finance minister, Sammy Wilson,

has warned that devolving business tax powers -- packs powers to

Stormont will not happen if it is too expensive. Here is our business

and economics editor of. Stormont is shopping around for an

idea to boost our economy. The most eye-catching offer is a cut in a

business tax. But every pound lost, they will Cup Stormont's spending.

Let us call it the Tesco effect. Previous Treasury estimates only

looked at companies headquartered here in Northern Ireland. Now, they

have included companies like Tesco, who operate here, but a

headquartered in GB. The cost has shot up to more than �400 million.

Tesco made profits of over �2.4 billion. That means around 17

million in profit in Northern Ireland. If the tax was hard, they

could save �9 million. Any other big UK company with big

corporations here, you can see how 100 million is easily reached. But

a Stormont willing to pay more than �400 million a year? Might reaction

to the initial figure was it was too high. If that has gone up, then

it is even higher. That create huge problems for the adjustment to

public spending in Northern Ireland. It is something we believe we have

got a lot of negotiation with the government to do. We do not what to

see the devolution of corporation tax at any price. That has an

immediate impact on the deliver real public services. The local

business lobby says the price need not be so high. We will be able to

take account of the additional payroll tax which will rise because

of extra jobs, additional VAT, and also, we will be able to attack us

-- are just tax rates. You can reduce costs of the �200 million a

year. If this takes of the way we hope, there will not be a cost to

the Northern Ireland Executive. debate moves to Whitehall, where

officials and politicians will argue it out. There is plenty of

negotiation left on have a price is worked out.

Still to come: We reveal Northern Ireland's successors at the UK food

Oscars. The Cup kicks off in a carnival

style. We welcome this every year. How much would you play for a

plastic bag? Alex Attwood said it would help raise money, because our

environment correspondent reports, not everyone agreed with the

potential cost. The plastic bag has become an icon

of consumerism. It is impossible to walk down any street, and not see

them. We used to wonder million of them every year, usually just once.

It is a waste of material. The Assembly have decided to bring

in a plastic bag charge by 20th April 13. I would pay about 5p.

20 p at the most. I heard it mentioned this morning. It is

ridiculous! I would say to people stop plastic bag tax makes a huge

difference for the environment. The bad attacks across the border

has made its mark. It is 22 a bag. While it has caused a dramatic drop

in bad numbers, there has been a rise in other clubs are clear

plastic bags to compensate. From October, shoppers will pay 5p for a

plastic bag. One criticism of bad tax is that it is the shop owners

who will have to collected. This will add to the burden of small

traders. It will be disproportionate. It is unfortunate

that we expect shopkeepers to be the tax collectors for this levy.

But if the price is set too low, it will not cover costs. If it is set

too high, people were not pay up. Alex Attwood is with me now. You

meet the price to be high enough to cover the admin cost and to fund

those at environmental projects. Let's see what the consultation

reveals. In the south, when they introduced it 10 years ago, they

set a figure of �12 on plastic bags -- 12p. The generated revenue for

the state. There is models are their where you can marry together

for a reduction in plastic bag usage, raise revenue for the state

and do so at a cost that disproportionate. It has to be

effective. What do you favour? 15p a bag? I am not naive that this is

a panacea for the issues of the green economy but going forward.

This is a small part of a small answer to the issue of green issues.

It could be 5p, up to 10 or 12p. I will listen to the consultation.

What I will decide is a figure that brings about significant reduction

in plastic bag usage, raises revenue and set new standards in

terms of green issues going forward. When we make that decision? After

the consultation. Late this year into the autumn. You spoke about

this being a small portion, plastic bags only make-up 1% of visible

waste. What are you going to do about the bigger problem? Packaging

in relation to what consumers buy. If we are to move on the issue of

single-use plastic bags, shouldn't we be moving more on the issue of

the use of plastic generally in the north. In Belfast, we recycle 20 %

of domestic waste. I want to know why the cod have 50, 60, 70 %

recycling rates going forward. -- can't have. The big opportunity is

to be the leader on these islands of green eight -- green technology,

giving an hour wind, title and water resources. This issue about

the attacks on bags is a small part of a bigger strategy I have in

terms of recycling and renewables going forward. Citizens,

shopkeepers and everyone else, takes this issue forward in a

positive way. He thank you for coming in.

Yesterday we highlighted the build- up of algae on Loch Breckland lake.

The Department of Culture and leisure says that we'd has spread

quickly. As promised, Department staff began to clear the lake using

a weed harvester. There has been concerns that the machine was not

working and it while we were there, it was not operating.

The work started this morning and the Harvester has cleared a path

way through the centre of the lake. I still remain concerned that if we

had not raised the issue to local media, it would it have swung into

action so quickly? Our food industry has seen as the

brightest hope for providing new employment opportunities.

This week there was a boost when 40 companies won between them 160

awards in what is described as the Oscars of the food industry.

Foot has always been at the heart of the local economy. -- food. Food

production and processing provide employment for more than 80,000

people. Building on that success requires constant innovation and

this delicatessen business is one of 14 Northern Ireland companies to

win gold stars from the UK Guild of fine food. It is a way of life for

us. We grow a lot of vegetables and herbs and soft fruits for the

produce. It makes it very unique. Competing against 1,600 UK and

Irish companies, Dale Farm with its dairies when a string of gold stars

for its cheese and butter. There was a foot Oscar for best TV

company. -- teabag company. This company achieved the top award

of three gold stars. We were fortunate. We managed to get 14 of

them for our bacon, beef, lamb, pork. We are delighted. Spare a

thought for the judges of the taste Awards. They took 34 days to taste

over 7,000 products. Northern Ireland finished with one here and

60 gold awards -- 160 awards. I will try and be a judge next year.

I have just harvested three parts of potatoes in my back garden.

For Martin brought back some chocolate brownies. They were quite

delicious. Now to spot and a football

tournament that was under threat because of a lack of funding has

started and Londonderry. The Foyle Cup attracts teams from

all over the world. Some skills are on display at this

year's Foyle Cup. Humble beginnings of eight teams in 1992, the

tournament now has 100 sides competing. Shankill Juniors have

been represented here every year since it started. We get to play

against teams from all over Europe and Northern Ireland. It is

important to put ourselves among the best. We are from a working-

class area and don't have the funds to travel. We appreciate them

coming here. It gives our boys an opportunity to match themselves

against the best. There were question marks over the competition

after a failed to secure funding. There -- after behind-the-scenes

lobbying, the tourism minister provided a one-off payment for 2011.

The organisers say there is no doubting the value of the

competition. It is reaching to our communities, bringing kids together.

Look at the parade at the start, we had kids from all over marching

together. Kids as soon as 10 years of age. We have to start the

healing at that Ian age. That is the way we are going to move

forward. -- we have to start the healing at that young age. On the

pitch, it is as competitive as ever. It is a great experience playing

with so many teams from around the world. The competition runs until

the weekend. The world famous Belleek pottery

factory is a major tourist attraction but a recent discovery

has shown this is no modern phenomenon.

The visitors' book dating back to 1868 has come to light. It reveals

the lengths some people have gone These days, Belleek welcomes

tourists by the coachload. Over a century ago, it wasn't just as easy

to get here. In 1870, the 5th Earl Spencer travelled by boat and horse

drawn carriage. The great grand uncle of Princess Diana was

appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by Queen Victoria. His

visit was recorded in the visitors' book which has been missing for 143

years. In order to get to Belleek in 1870, Earl Spencer had to arrive

here on board a speech chip. Their visit was reported in the Irish

Times, estates -- it states, a stiff gale blew. Lord Spencer lost

his hat on a passage. Staff and actors dressed in period costumes

and were clinging to their hats as the visit was re-enacted to mark

the return of the visitors' book to the pottery. It was found in an

attic in Tipperary and was bought by two avid Belleek kept -- two

avid Belleek collectors. This was the only bit of information we had

ever seen like this. We paid for it at auction and got it. I their

entries in the book reveal but that -- visitors have been coming here

since 1868. Above all else, it reveals brand and brand awareness.

How do people come from some of the places you see here? Australia,

Calcutta in India, South Africa. How did they find out about our

company? It is the name that has been carried over to these places.

For this is those early days, 2.5 million people have been to see the

craftsmen and women at work. The visitors' book is now on display

for tourists following in the footsteps of Earl Spencer.

You never know who has been here. Hope on the horizon is for more

sunshine. It has been quite cold the last

couple of days. On 20th July, you may have had your heating on in the

evening. Temperatures are going to rise and we are going to see more

sunshine eventually. I can't promise that the whole of the

weekend will stay warm. It is cloudy at the moment and there is

some damp weather for parts of the East. That will continue on and off

through the night. It is a nuisance. Generally, some clear spells and

temperatures dropping to eight Celsius. We still have some of that

cloudy weather to start with tomorrow. Gradually it will

brighten up and the showers will be few and far between. A brighter day

and foremost, dry weather also. The first thing you can see is that

dreary weather and a disappointing start. The winds are still in the

north. It will still not feel that one. We have sunshine around

tomorrow. Temperatures creep up a little bit too today. Pay is the

possibility of a shower to the north. -- there is a possibility.

The fine weather continues into tomorrow evening. The last couple

of days, there hasn't been much sunshine towards the north coast

but hopefully you may get some tomorrow. Still that Pre's but it

will start to ease through Friday it. -- breeze. Temperatures around

18 Celsius on Friday. The sunshine will be strong. You may have

forgotten what it feels like. Saturday looks like starting quite

nice. Temperatures should get up to 20 Celsius. Forget the showers,

that is a mistake. To begin with on Sunday, there will be some sunshine

Sunday, there will be some sunshine around. A catch up with this on

Twitter. You are human after all.

I do make mistakes. Let us leave you with the reminder

of the stories making headlines. The health must has indicated that

accident and emergency services are to close at Belfast City Hospital.

-- Health Minister. There has been a scathing attack on

the bat met -- Vatican accusing it of downgrading child abuse.

A woman has appeared in court charged with a brick attack last

week. The Prime Minister has said it in