03/04/2014 BBC Newsline

This is BBC Newsline. The headlines this Thursday evening: The First

Minister suggests Stormont's powers over Social Security could be given

back to Westminster if there's no political agreement over welfare

reform. I am telling you, there are certain

decisions that have to be taken. Other people are failing in their

leadership, not me. Other people are failing in their

As golf's Irish Open returns here twice in the next three years -

negotiations are under way to stage the biggest tournament of all, The

Open. The road out of recession - has the

economic recovery turned up in your town?

There is potential for some heavy rain tonight, but mainly for the

eastern counties. The First Minister has suggested

Stormont's powers over social security could be given back to

Westminster if there is no political agreement over welfare reform.

Legislation to change benefits has been brought in for England,

Scotland and Wales, but Sinn Fein are currently refusing to back a

similar bill here. Peter Robinson has said there are potential nuclear

options if the deadlock continues. Chris Page reports.

options if the deadlock continues. over welfare reform, Peter Robinson

has talked about the possibility of new dealer options. At the moment he

says that means he would not put Stormont in a bunker. The First

Minister has said it is possible that the ball powers on welfare

could be given back to Westminster. It can be a simple is sent to the

government, this government is not competent to take difficult

decisions cost two of the parties in the coalition are not prepared to

take difficult decisions. Therefore, you have to take this off us. We

don't want to have these issues the ball to us. That is one option. The

DUP have given cataclysmic warnings about the consequences of financial

penalties that Westminster has imposed because welfare legislation

has not been passed. The DUP said imposed because welfare legislation

that ?1 billion could be lost from the Budget over the next five years.

They claimed that if the welfare changes don't go through, ?68

million will have to be culled from the health Budget. According to Mr

Robinson, if the welfare system becomes separate from the rest of

the UK, the new computer network will cost ?1.5 billion. This Sinn

Fein minister has criticised his comments. Threats, plucking figures

out of the area, while not resolve this issue. The executive has an

ability to stand united. When the executives stand united we see

changes being delivered, different is being made. Our call to him is to

stand united with the executive and the people, the most honourable

people in the society, and stand up to the British government. The First

Minister is talking about nuclear options, but the button has not been

pressed. Politicians tend to retreat to their bunkers at election times,

with elections in each of the next three years, reaching agreements on

contentious issues could prove difficult.

You can see more of that interview on The View this evening. That's

here on BBC One straight after our late news.

The former Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde says that if Downing Street had

asked him to release a prisoner in police custody he would have

remembered it until his dying day. Sir Hugh was responding to a claim

made by a senior retired police officer to a Westminster committee

that Number Ten sought the release of a republican arrested for

questioning about attempting to murder a part time soldier in 1981.

Here's our Political Editor, Mark Devenport.

Westminster committees had their moments of drama, but it is where

for a piece of evidence to prove quite as explosive as this claim

from retired the tech chief superintendent Norman Baxter. Gerry

Adams telephoned Downing Street demanding their release. Downing

Street rang the chief constable'soffice looking for their

release. I got up and call suggesting I should release them.

That, of course, in my mind is an attempt to provide the course of

justice. The alleged interference didn't stop this Republican being

conveyed that for the attempted murder of an Ulster defence Regiment

soldier. At soldier is now a DUP councillor. He was shocked by the

revelations but suspects there is more to come. The government has

behaved very badly towards the victims of terrorism in this

country. The deck is seen to be expendable, but the terrorists have

to be preserved and let free possible. It is potentially illegal

to try to interfere with the police investigation. It is an attempt to

prevent the course of justice. It is a very serious allegation. The

former Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, says that Downing Street had

asked him to release prisoners he would have remembered it to his

dying day. Sir Hugh Orde believes that no such phone call was majoring

to seven years he led the police. He is not giving evidence until next

week, but his successor, Matt Baggott, faced the policing board

today. The Chief Constable said the police once Norman Baxter to clarify

his claim that Downing Street had tried to interfere in this case. I

have asked the deputy responsible for issues of misconduct to write to

Mr Baxter asking him to give us an account of what happens, by who,

when, and to give us some detail behind his statement so we can make

an objective assessment. Also in the hot seat today was the Stormont

Justice Minister, David Ford. He insisted he will never endorse any

on the run scheme on his watch. A 23-year-old woman has died

following a two-vehicle collision in County Londonderry.

She was Leanne Dripps, from the Upperlands area of Maghera. It

happened on the Agivey Road in Kilrea shortly after 8.00am this

morning. A second person has been taken to hospital with injuries that

are not life-threatening. The police have appealed to anyone who was

travelling on the Agivey Road around the time of the accident to contact

them. On the day that it was revealed that

the Irish Open is to come to Northern Ireland twice in the next

three years, the BBC has learned that negotiations are under way to

bring the biggest competition in golf, The Open itself, to Northern

Ireland. The one and only time the Open

Championship has been held here was 1951. Stephen Watson is at the Royal

County Down Golf Club. It was confirmed today that the

Irish open will be staged here at Royal County Down Golf Club, and

also at the Loch earn resort in County Fermanagh. It has been made

possible by part County Fermanagh. It has been made

Stormont executive. It also said that negotiations are at an exam --

at an advanced stage, to bring The Open back to Ireland. A hole for the

First Minister on the day the executive delivered to professional

golf tournaments. The biggest of them all could be on the way. He

revealed negotiations are at an advanced stage to bring The Open

back to Northern Ireland for the second time ever. We have been

talking to them for some time. I believe that we have the courses

that would meet their requirements. We may have some in the structure

issues to deal with, but I am still confident that it is capable of

coming to Northern Ireland. What stage of those negotiations at?

coming to Northern Ireland. What past the early stages of

discussions. Would you be confident of delivering it? I can't when we

were still talking to them, to indicate the level of confidence. I

am determined to put every effort we can in order to bring the open to

Northern Ireland. A deal has been struck with the European Tour for

the Irish open to return. It is a four-year agreement, really. You're

showcasing one of the great courses in the world at Royal County Down

Golf Club, and Loch earn has so many great reports. We know where we are

for four years. This is a tremendous day for the European Tour. Royal

County Down Golf Club has staged picture in a month before, like the

British senior open and the amateur Walker cup that saw Rory McIlroy

play the famous links. It is the first time in 75 years that the

Irish open will have been held here. It is great for the course to have

such fabulous players playing on it. I think the town and the area, and

Northern Ireland as a whole will benefit. It will hopefully bring in

more golf tourists to not just Northern Ireland, at the whole

country -- but all of Ireland. As for The Open, it is only been staged

in Northern Ireland once before, back in 1951. I understand will port

Russia is the chosen venue again, and it is believed the deal could be

delivered as early as 2019. You're watching BBC Newsline. Still

to come on the programme: We're taking a closer look at how the

economy is trying to recover from the recession by visiting various

places over the next few weeks. This evening I'm in Cookstown, where

success has been found in a niche business.

The author of a new report says that the argument over the Unionist flag

is caused by a Democratic -- a demographic shifts in Northern

Ireland. He concludes one of the problems is a lack of political

leadership. Belfast is a city in transition. It

is also a divided city, divided high walls and even by this river. On the

east bank you have a solidly Protestant unionist population, on

the west, solidly nationalist and Catholic. What does that mean for

its future? Well it is not that simple, there are still significant

pockets of unionists in saw the -- in northern South Belfast, there is

a dramatic shift. In 2001 there were 130,000 Catholics and about 135,000

Protestant Belfast. Ten years later the Catholic population had

increased by than 5,000, a tipping point where it is larger than

Protestants, who have been -- who have been increased by 16,000.

Protestants, who have been -- who has changed from having a Protestant

majority, to the first time the Protestant population being in a

minority. Those figures were published in December 2012,

published a week after the vote was taken in Belfast City Council. It is

not as if the people who came to protest about the flag decision had

read those figures and decided to come out in protest, but, actually,

sometimes people can act like human censorious, they pick up what is

happening underneath their feet, they pick up the vibration. The

report cites a cultural conflict over the flag which is drawn in

mainly young Protestant men who are suffering higher than average

unemployment at a time when Catholics are excelling in schools

as they retired up poverty. There is a section of our population, young

Protestant men, who have no way out of their poverty. They experience it

as inequality. That will erupt. His report concludes that the sea bed of

conflict will have to be managed through job creation, political

leadership and peace with reconciliation.

Last night, we brought you the report that showed how poorer

Protestant boys are falling behind at school. Today, the Progressive

Unionist Party says it's unhappy a report into the issue hasn't been

adopted by the party leaders. The party's councillor John Kyle

published the report and asked senior politicians to agree its

recommendations. I am still waiting, but I am optimistic that

they will agree what has been proposed. I do think there is a lack

of urgency. This report from the community relations Council

highlights that this must be dealt with, we can't be complacent and

feel that doing a little bit here and there will solve the problem. If

we don't solve it, we will have bigger problems down the road.

We keep hearing that the local economy is getting stronger, with

some predicting it will grow by almost 3% this year. But is there

any sign of recovery where you live? Well, over the next few weeks we'll

be taking the economic temperature in several towns. Tonight, Donna is

in Cookstown. Cookstown is at the heart of

Mid-Ulster. In the worst years of the recession Mid-Ulster had one of

the biggest rises in unemployment of any part of the UK. Between 2008 and

2010, the number of the people claiming

2010, the number of the people this area surged by an almost

unbelievable 73%. Many of those jobs were lost in construction - a sector

which has been slow to recover. John Campbell has been taking a closer

look here and has found that recovery in this part of the world

is being driven by a different line of work.

PDS is a prime example. It is much bigger than it was before the

recession. Its workforce is also getting better.

It's a profitable niche. The workforce has doubled in three

years. It is very much a growing organisation. Particularly, in our

export markets. But does growth in this whole sector

mean the economy is on the up? It is a challenging marketplace.

There are signs of improvement, but those pockets of improvement are

very much pockets of improvement. They are in specialist areas. In the

wider context, the economy is still suffering.

Keirin Higgins says the last year has definitely been more positive.

Keirin Higgins says the last year Over the last number of years, we

have assisted with the start-up of a significant number of businesses. In

the last year, we have started more businesses in the last year than in

the last seven or eight years. There are still some obvious signs

of the downturn, there is a feeling that a recovery will be one which is

fragile and uneven. However, it is finally under way.

What are the potential difficulties? Those in high-tech areas like IT and

engineering are talking about a skills shortage. There are not

enough people to fill the jobs they are offering. They are prepared to

pay good money, they just aren't enough of those people out there.

Stormont has also noticed this, trying to put more skills into the

workplace. But that will take more time to come through. That could be

a barrier to growth in some of these companies.

You have been listening to people talk about skills, but first the

news yesterday of the stalling of the Desert crate college. What does

that mean for business? I have heard it described as a dark

day for the town. I think when you look at it it has been on the go for

ten years. ?11 million has been spent on getting the college to this

stage, but it has now been re-tendering. That has

stage, but it has now been some optimism. I know that there

will be hope in the town that - I think there is still optimism.

In regard to training young people, how focused do you think it is in

this area targeting future prosperity watermark

I think there is quite a lot of hope in the town. We get a lot of reports

in from local businesses and colleges, and they are working with

schools. They go to work places to see what the skills are like, and

they get some idea of what it is like to work there. There is an

event going on locally, tomorrow. I think it all looks good for young

people. We will be focusing next week on

retail. From Cookstown back to the studio.

When did you last climb through a wardrobe, meet a lion or a witch

when you took the dog for walk? Well, regular visitors to Belmont

Park in East Belfast could soon be enjoying a taste of Narnia.

Characters and images from the world created by local boy CS Lewis will

be created around the park, thanks to a new project just passed by

Belfast City Council. Will Leitch reports.

Let's face it - there's no way a wardrobe in east Belfast could

possibly lead to Narnia. What do you know? It's nice but it

isn't Narnia gets. The friends of Belmont Park have big plans for

their favourite bit of open space. If you are a member --

their favourite bit of open space. remember the books, you step through

the wardrobe through the trees. If you've read the books, you know why

the lamp is there. We will place this lamp just through the gates.

That should trigger a lot of images in your mind. Through the woods,

there will be other things. I the end of the process, which will take

some time, you will go through a Narnia walk through this part with

small references to things from your childhood.

Eventually, you can expect the White witch's slate, and Aslan the line.

But there is still some planning to be done. -- Aslan the lion.

Now back live to Newcastle where Stephen has more on golf's Irish

Open. Tiger Woods has dropped in a few

times to play. Is it fair to say there hasn't been as much excitement

since then? We welcome all the best players in

the world to come to visit from all over the world.

Unlike Royal Portrush, the fans who come here will be able to come in

and out of the town. Was that an important part of this?

I believe it will be very good for the town of Newcastle. It's lovely

to see the golfing fans come and enjoy the local area.

It will obviously leave a great legacy for golf. And there is talk

of the opening coming perhaps in the future.

There is a great run of golf in Northern Ireland. This is going to

help continue that. Thank you very much. Tickets are

already on sale for the Irish Open next year.

Carl Frampton and Frampton stepped off the scales and

told the world he would knock his Mexican opponent out. Thomas Kane

reports. Bang on weight, and ready to go.

reports. Carl Frampton says he is going to

win, and win in style. I think I want to get rid of this

guy. It will be a big statement when I do.

I believe I'm going to do it. You need to look explosive. You need

to look exciting in your performances. American TV are

interested in us now. I am prepared to give that.

It's the terrible fight. If the site where that hometown favourite is up

against the veteran. He specialises in going overseas,

either Porter regrow or Japan. -- Porter regrow or Japan.

The site is live on radio Ulster. He played for Ulster, he coached

Ulster and now all he wants to do is beat Ulster. On Saturday, Mark

McCall brings his Saracens side to Ravenhill with a Heineken Cup

semifinal up for grabs. Thomas Niblock reports.

As an injured captain in 1999, Mark McCall led Ulster to their ultimate

achievements. Living in London now, McCall is proud.

It has been tremendous for me to watch the progress the club has made

in the last three or four years. We have gone up against top-class gods

in Europe. I am delighted to see it. On Saturday, my attachment is with

the Saracens team. I have been with them for five years.

Mark McCall of Ulster is long gone - coaching Saracens, who said at the

top of the league, Ravenhill is now simply enemy territory. We know

there is real expectation from the Ulster team. That expectation comes

from within the team. It comes from the public, as well, you expect

great things. That's going to make for an

atmosphere which will --. It's not like playing an international match.

It's the real deal. There will be a hostile and tense crowd.

I hope to turn that expectation into something better.

They're not just hoping for a win but expecting it.

We will hear from the Ulster camp tomorrow.

Let's get a look at the weather forecast with Angie.

For some people, some more rain in the forecast tonight. A pretty

gloomy one for many parts of Northern Ireland. The further east

you are, temperatures will struggle at around 10 degrees. We did get

some bright spells for a time. Temperatures peaked at 15 degrees.

We still have that cloud with us through the evening. Maybe a few

showers around. Generally, for Mid Ulster and the West, it looks as

though it will stay dry through the night. It is a different story for

the Eastern counties. A weather front is rolling in spells of rain.

There are uncertainties about how far inland that rain will get, there

is potential for heavy bursts. The Met office has issued a rain

warning. Be aware that there is a risk of localised versus flooding.

The worst about rain will be out of the way I the weekend, and we should

see things gradually improving. Many of us are looking at a lot of dry

weather tomorrow. A slow start, and it could be gloomy and misty in

places. The rain clears quickly, and once it goes on the temperatures

does start to rise. We once it goes on the temperatures

seeing some bright spells and sunshine coming through by the time

we get into the afternoon. Temperatures around 13 or 14

degrees. Feeling very pleasant with light winds. 12 showers scattered

around, but most places of avoiding those and staying dry. Into tomorrow

evening, not a bad end to the day. Bright spells around, but as we head

into the night the clouds are gathering. Spells of rain will be

moving in, especially towards western areas. On Saturday morning,

it's not looking too brilliant because that rain continues to

edging. Some heavy bursts of rain around, but hopefully not staying

that way. The afternoon looks dry and writer. Highs of 13 or 14. The

mother highs on Sunday, but more rain to come.

Our late summary is at 10.25pm. You can also keep in contact with us via

Facebook and Twitter. From BBC Newsline - good night.