05/01/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is Newsline with Donna Traynor. The headlines this

Thursday evening. Repairs to the electricity interconnector between

here and Scotland have been delayed. This is the ship carrying out the

work, but how much is it costing? Royal Portrush will host the Irish

Open this summer, a year earlier than expected. The breast implants

scare - a Belfast woman tells us why she had hers removed. The SDLP

leader apologises over his comments on MLA pay. A reprieve for an arts

venue that thought it was on its last legs. I'm live from the Black

Box in the Cathedral Quarter. And after a rough couple of days of

weather, it is looking calmer at long last. I'll have the full

forecast for you later. First, an exclusive story about our

electricity supply which could end up costing tens of millions of

pounds. An electricity inter- connector runs under the water

between Islandmagee in County Antrim and Aryshire in Scotland. It

is made up of two supply cables. Both have been out of action, which

means we cannot rely on importing energy from across the Irish Sea. A

big repair job has been going on but it's behind schedule. And this

could all lead to a repair bill of about �20 million. Kevin Magee has

been finding out more. This ship is one other largest of its kind in

the world. Capable of deep-sea trawling and construction, it is

repairing the electricity interconnector. But today it was

tied up in Belfast Harbour. It began work in the North Channel at

the end of October but the currents and the weather conditions have

hampered progress and the repair work is now behind Churchill.

Coming ashore at Island Magee, the connector links the grade of

Northern Ireland and Scotland through submarine cables. Because

they're not working, Northern Ireland cannot rely on power from

outside the island of Ireland. the power station tripped, there

would be a risk of the lights going out if at a peak period during the

day or the evening. And in cold weather, those periods are even

worse. We are at risk until the interconnector is repaired of some

lights going out and some dark, cold nights. A company responsible

for ensuring there is enough electricity in the system says that

supply should not be affected. loss of the interconnector for such

a period does reduce the operating margin which increases risk. But we

manage that delay and we're confident. It would take the loss

of another major generating unit to further reduce those margins, which

would make it very tight and then the risk increases. The fault in

one cable has been detected and a section has been removed. This is

part of the actual interconnector that has been dug up from the

bottom of the sea. Normally there is enough electricity passing

through this to be the equivalent other small power station and went

before it was detected, it was the size of a 50 pence piece. Work on

the second fractured cable will not begin until the first one has been

repaired. The overall bill could run towards �20 million but the

owners say that customers will not be expected to pay. The cost of the

repairs are very significant in terms of this major exercise. To

mitigate against that, mutual energy and its subsidiary carry

insurance for this and this incident, we are insured for. When

the bill rolls then, the insurance companies will pay. And not the

concern. Yes. -- not the consumer. The insurance company will pay.

is expected that one of the cables will be fixed next month but the

other will take longer. The success of local golfers on the world stage

has helped bring a prestigious tournament to Northern Ireland. The

Irish Open will be staged at Royal Portrush this summer. The last time

was a 1953 in Belvoir Park golf course. There will be an official

announcement at the venue tomorrow. Stephen Watson is here to give us a

heads-up on what to expect in June and he has been speaking to some of

the golfing stars. How big is this for Northern Ireland? Fantastic

news. It was expected Royal Portrush would host this in 2013

but it will happen one year earlier and the news will be announced

tomorrow by the head of European Tour. Darren Clarke will be in

attendance, as well Arlene Foster, because the executive have agreed

to help fund this, probably to the tune of �2 million. The tournament

welcome off for one year and go back to the Republic in 2013 and it

comes off the back of that success by our major champions and they are

thrilled at this news. We are excited that it has a great date in

the calendar, going in at the end of June. Killarney has been great

for a couple of years and we all know that it is tough times

economically so sponsors are hard to find but Irish golf has never

been stronger. To have that drive behind the actual event is

fantastic. Irish players are 100% anything that we can possibly do to

make the Irish Open in Portrush be the best that can be. Things and

Ireland are not as good as they used to be. It is nice to come home

and support the home tournament and bring some joy back into some

people's lives by playing Your Home event. I am looking forward to

getting there and trying to win. Darren Clarke with his trophy. What

part has he played in getting us to Portrush, his home club?

success in the summer, like Graham McDowell the year before, but will

Portrush in the golfing headlines. Previously, Darren revealed that he

would act as an ambassador for Royal Portrush and would open up

his contacts to attract big names. He also acknowledged that the

financial hurdles that would have to be overcome by a Portrush...

With the current economic climate, it is tough to get new sponsors and

we are looking for around 4 million euros to put this on. It is a big

expense but we have such an amazing product here. Links is the purest

form of golf and this is the best course in the world. It is hoped

that the successful staging of the Irish Open could lead to the return

to the biggest and best tournament in the world, the Open, coming to

Portrush. It was already there in 1951 and the governing body has

been to Portrush to look at the venue. The Irish Open in the sombre

will be a fine example of what Royal Portrush can do. Thank you.

The police believe a fire that badly damaged commercial premises

in Ballyclare was started deliberately. The blaze at the

family-run business, Clare Farm Supplies, in Park Street was

discovered early this morning. 40 firefighters tackled the blaze in

strong winds and there were fears it could spread to other buildings.

A review ordered by the government into the risks of a type of breast

implant is due to report back tomorrow. Local health trusts told

the BBC earlier this week that the French PIP brand is not used in

hospitals but is in some private clinics. It's thought not many

women here are affected but the former Miss Great Britain and model

Gemma Garrett is one of them. Her implants had to be removed last

year at a cost of �11,000. Earlier she told me about when she realised

something was wrong. I had researched another surgeon at

Harley Street in London and I had found a lump on my left breast. He

examined me and said, I and 99% sure that the implants have

ruptured. And they are probably from PIP. That is the first-ever

heard of the company. Were you told of the potential danger of having

these then when you first got them in 2008? Not from the surgeon, the

surgeon did not talk me through any dangers or the fact that I might

have them replaced in 10 years. I was 26, I was our of the dangers of

going under anaesthetic for Vanity reasons but nothing to this extent.

Having this sort of surgery for cosmetic reasons is growing, very

popular in Northern Ireland. Argue night very wary, giving your

experience? -- are you very wary? The last year has been very hard

for me, horrific. I would advise anybody thinking about getting in

plants, to think very hard about the decision because in 10 years

you will have to have them replaced and we do not know the effects that

they have on the body. But there are a reputable surgeons out there

and in a lot of cases, nothing goes wrong? That is true. I am not

slitting fall in plants, I think that they work very well for people

if it is affecting the life, like cancer patients are people who are

depressed about their body. But it should not be a decision that you

just make one day. Yes, I might have in plants. I would advise

anybody to think very hard about that because I have had a few years

from hell. To make out speaking earlier on the programme. -- Gemma

Garrett. A second day of searches on the Antrim coast for a missing

cyclist has ended. Samuel Campbell from Kells disappeared on New

Year's Day and so far the only sign of him has been his bike, which was

found near Glenarm on Tuesday. Since then, rescue teams have been

scouring the shoreline for Mr Campbell. But the bad weather made

today's operation difficult. weather today has been north-

westerly and is coming up to storm force, very gusty wind up to 80 mph.

With those conditions on the sea, it is quite difficult for the

lifeboat to get that close because of their swell. They will get as

close as they can. We are dealing with the search for a missing

person, we have no other avenue is, so we are still hopeful we can

locate the missing man. Still to come on the programme... Why this

little boy is only getting his first day at school now. And the

real Iron Lady divided opinions. But what will a unionist and a

republican make of the new film about Margaret Thatcher? The SDLP

leader, Alasdair McDonnell, has apologised for causing offence by

arguing that MLAs are entitled to more generous pension provisions

and a small increase in their salary. Dr McDonnell's comments in

a newspaper interview have been criticised by his own party members,

including his deputy, Dolores Kelly. Dr McDonnell is with me. Did you

not know that it was your party's policy to have a pay freeze? I do

know the party's policy. I was sitting and my choice of words

might have been not judicious and I was careful not to put them in

context. You admit that you were wrong? I admit that I did not put

the thing in context. I was asked a question about the Assembly

commission on pay. I said I was concerned that if they were going

to come through with a large pay rise, I was concerned that in the

present context, it should be minimal or at most, one or 2%.

come out with the statement, if it was a Bob -- the wrong one, before

that panel comes forward with its recommendations? Politically, that

was not very astute. I did not come out with a statement. I was being

interviewed by a newspaper. This question was put to me and I have a

habit of being honest and straight and I give a straight answer.

not have been politically astute to not answer that question. I could

quote to in future that politicians should not give direct answers in

the BBC studio but I stand on my record and I am as concerned as

anybody else about social justice and poverty and job losses and my

colleagues and myself work every day and has only a few weeks ago

that you are standing shoulder to shoulder with public sector workers,

defending their incomes and pension rights. Do you accept that what you

have said, you have apologised, but that has angered and embarrassed

tour party colleagues? You have made an apology, very often in

these circumstances, an apology is accompanied by an offer of

resignation. My leadership is very strong and I was elected leader

with a very strong mandate two months ago. I was elected leader to

rebuild the party and but it back in a position of winning more

elections and seats. I have been engaged in that. It isn't a very

good start to her Ladyship. Even coming from Dolores Kelly, your own

deputy. People are very annoyed and embarrassed. I am not perfect. I do

not know anybody who is. I have been a mistake in that I did not

set this thing in the right context and I have put my hands up. I have

made a mistake. Right? The St a policy is that there should be a

pay freeze above �31,500. I subscribe to that and I will

subscribe to that going forward. I emphasise, I did not a bird from

that in the first place. I merely allowed myself into a hypothetical

situation, discussing this, as to what the commission might recommend.

I was suggesting, thinking out loud, but perhaps it would be wrong of

them to make a big pay increase. That is all. OK. It has been turned

upside down. We have run out of The Black Box arts venue in Belfast

has had a major boost to its chances of survival. It opened in

2006 to fill a temporary gap in arts provision and was due to close

in April this year if, but last night, Belfast city Council handed

a lifeline. Yes, I am in the main space of this former whiskey

warehouse, then transformed into offices and now into an arts venue.

It was set up for six years, but it was so popular and the managers

liked it so much they want to keep it open. The dilemma is that Black

Box arts venue is relying on funding of �61,000, but is just top

up money because it is 82% self- sufficient. It is hard out for

numerous events and festivals. Today, this actor is performing in

a musical adaptation of the Third policeman. It drew a capacity

lunchtime crowd and many events are sold out. The public funding is due

to run out in April and there have been appeals to extend it. Last

night, Belfast city Council give it a boost by approving an extension

of its �25,000 annual grant. It thinks it is the value for

ratepayers money. Having examined the evidence we are satisfied that

the investment of �25,000 in Black Box arts venue would represent good

Friday for money. Black Box arts venue adds to the cultural product

that exists in the city and there have been independent study showing

that it would not have an adverse effect on other locations. Well,

here at Black Box arts venue, the performers for tonight Show are on

stage waiting to go ahead. I am joined by a man who runs many

festivals and events here. What makes this base so special that you

want to keep it. As an issue come in here, you realise it is special.

Do something about the ambience, the friendliness of the staff, the

acoustics, there is something magical about it. You will have

competition shortly from the Mac? Yes, it is very exciting. We are

excited to see it coming. The two venues will work well together, if

they have the funding to survive. We attract a slightly different

audience to the Mac, but it is a very valuable audience. I spotted

these petitions which were aimed at Belfast city Council, so they have

been successful. Yes, it is the power of lobbying. We asked our

audiences to write to their local councillors and they did. It seems

to have worked. That will not be the end of the fund-raising.

Video-games, you might be completely obsessed are completely

clueless about them. The Bill Harry it is the fastest-growing business

in the entertainment world, a 70 billion-dollar global industry and

won the Republic this is trying to get a bigger slice off. If you

think the typical game there is a teenage boy shooting enemy targets

on the consul in his bedroom, you would be wrong. It is as simple

puzzle game and a worldwide sensation. Bejewelled has been

downloaded 50 million times and the US company behind it has its

European headquarters in Dublin. aim to make a video gamers out of

none gamers. What we are seeing now is with advances in smart phones,

the availability of games three notional net working sites, more

and more people are turning to what games and thinking and a dip in and

have a play. We think of gamers as teenage boys, but actually the

demographic now has been skewed so what is the Nebraskan housewife who

is playing foreign film. These are the new gamers. The people making

the games are the 12 eight boys in their bedrooms. Many games are now

produced in Ireland and the market is growing rapidly. 500 million new

gamers are playing games with in Facebook. This is the real

opportunity for Ireland. Two guys on a laptop can attack that market

and they do not need a lot of start-up revenue. They do not need

to be part of the publishing string. They can go directly to a consumer

and it gains out there. One Irish company doing that is Ideal Binary.

They bring fairy-tales to life for young children. The company set up

to two-and-a-half years ago and are set to double inside this year.

have a boom in the TEC sector here for. We need more graduates. There

are more than two and a half 1000 jobs open in this office. It has

never been a better time to start up a business in Ireland and never

a better time to get involved in the games industry. The government

hopes over 2000 new jobs can be created in the sector by 2015. This

is proof that playing games is a serious business.

Now, to Family Focus and a happy end to a story report due several

months ago. Ross Cartmill from Banbridge could not start primary

one in the school for deaf children in September because the education

board had not organised as transport. But as Chris Page

reports, that has now been sorted and this week he joined his class

mates for the first time. The first day at school is memorable for any

child or parent. For Ross Cartmill and his family, it is all the more

special. Ross, who is five, is deaf. The southern Education and Library

Board did not provide transport from his home in Banbridge in

September, so he could not begin school again as planned. Now, the

problem has been resolved and he has now started primary one here in

Jordanstown. We knew it was right. He jumped in the bath and he was

happy, waving away. We were here to greet him coming in and he was not

interested in us. He settled great. He is happy. His teachers are

delighted, as well. They think Jordanstown School is the best

place for Ross. Ross is a child who has profound hearing difficulty. He

has difficulty with communication. He needs signing to help them

communicate. With our ethos of total communication, I am confident

that Ross's level of communication will increase and improve and he

will become a confident communicator. Ross is thoroughly

enjoying learning sign language and playing with his new class mates.

His parents' persistence has paid off. Their local MP has supported

their case. Parents know when the child isn't well. They know the

mood swings and all of that. I would encourage parents out there

to fight their corner for the children. We could have other good

results and news stories like today. The family have had a great start

to 2012. Now that Ross is in school, he is quite content to be left to

make the most of Primary One. Now Margaret Thatcher, perhaps the

most controversial Prime Minister in living memory is back. Well

almost. She's getting Holywood treatment in a new film which opens

tomorrow starring the Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep. Our political

correspondent and a few guests went along to a sneak preview. Two fans

of Meryl Streep, but only one loves Margaret Thatcher. BBC Newsline

took a republican and a former member of the Conservative Party to

the cinema to view the arak -- The Iron Lady. Aware there is discord,

may we bring harmony. If vellum, not so much about politics and

policy, as the loss of power, both professionally and personally. As

Margaret Thatcher looks back as an old woman suffering from dementia.

What did our critics make of the film and? I thought it was very

good. It was genuinely moving. It was not just about a politician, it

was about Margaret Thatcher the person. You you could see power

slip, but the psychological and personal. It is a very well drawn

portrayal. Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher got it down to 80. It was

excellent. If you take it from a human being point of view, someone

suffering from all signers. For me, it was difficult to suspend

disbelief and always had in the back of my head, the reality of

Margaret Thatcher. Her record in Ireland is deplorable and there is

no way any republican would have sympathy with her. Unlike real life,

events in the films are peripheral. Blink and you will miss the IRA

bombing of the Brighton hotel. Putting aside the floors, want our

critics watch it again? I would see it in the next few days and I would

sit and relax. It is like every good for them, every time you go

back you notice something else. It is the sort of film that will grow

one people. Six out of him and that is because of the acting. I thought

Meryl Streep did a brilliant job. Possibly she could win an Oscar. A

Wood GC it again? No. Not even when it goes straight to DVD. A movie

about a woman who rises to the top in politics. I, for one, would not

mind seeing it again. We will be reporting live from Royal Portrush

golf club as it announces hosting this year's Irish open. Not much

golf played there over the last few Lots of showers have been coming in

today, very brisk north-westerly wind. Coming in of the sea and

pushing south and eastwards, but as the wind starts to ease, so these

showers are easing back as well. You should not hear the wind

howling around the house tonight, because it is gradually going to

ease through the rest of the evening. It was windy the seeding

through the North Coast. Big waves at Portrush. There has also been

some sunshine, a break in the rain for parts of for a man at work it

was a complete washout yesterday. The last of the showers today dying

away, most of the night will be dry and the winds will continue to ease.

Temperatures will fall to two or three degrees, so a colder night,

possibly a touch of frost or ice first thing tomorrow in eastern

areas. Cloudier weather will move in and any frost or ice chute left

by 9 am. It will not be in mourning for scraping the car windscreen.

Generally cloudy, light winds and a will be some dampness around in the

west. Many eastern areas will stay dry and it will stay dry for a good

part of the day. Not much in the way of brightness. Temperatures

will gradually left into double figures for the afternoon, to

around 10 or 11 degrees. We will see a little bit more of rain or

drizzle breaking out so most places will end up with some dampness by