03/04/2014 BBC Newsline

forget a first look at the papers over on the BBC News Channel. But

now on BBC One, Hello, and welcome to BBC Newsline.

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. But Sinn Fein have called on

Mr Robinson to join with them in opposing the legislation. Chris Page

reports. In the debate over welfare reform,

Peter Robinson has talked about the possibility of nuclear options. He

says, at the moment, that doesn't mean he would consign to the bunker.

In the night's edition of The View, he said that it's possible that

powers on West... Welfare could be given back to Westminster.

It can be as simple as saying that this government is not competent to

take on welfare decisions. Therefore, you have to take this off

us. The DUP has given increasingly cataclysmic warnings of the

consequences of financial penalties at Westminster has imposed.

But this Sinn Fein minister has criticised Mr Robinson's latest

comments. Our call to Peter Robinson is to stand united with the

Executive and with vulnerable people in society to stand up to the

government in Westminster. This is worrying for people on

benefits, according to a charity. People are living on subsistence

levels as it is. They are concerned about what is happening, and how it

is going to impact on them. The bus and has not yet been pressed

on nuclear options. Around election time, politicians tend to retreat to

their bunker anyway. With elections in each of the next three years,

meeting agreement on contentious issues like welfare could prove

difficult. And you can see that interview with

Peter Robinson in full on The View immediately after this bulletin.

Shareholders in the Fivemiletown Co-operative have been meeting

tonight to discuss the future of the business.

The future of Fivemiletown creamery is being decided tonight, at the

workers here have been in the dark so far. The creamery owners and

stakeholders are meeting representatives of the much bigger

company, the cheese reduction company. Fivemiletown's small

factory has seen around 4,000 tonnes of cheddar cheese per year. They

want to transfer about production to one of their bigger factories. But

it's the workers, the 50 staff here at Fivemiletown, you are most

worried about their futures. You have to look at the employees.

There are a lot of orders coming in, everyone is trying to help the farms

out in a difficult time. We are willing to help out the farms. Show

the farmer that we will support him. With losses at around ?100,000 a

month, the shareholders are forced to make a decision, probably a

radical one. There is still the prospect of alternative bidders,

with Lake lads coming in, but at the moment it seems that the bigger

company is most likely to take over. The Chief Constable has told the

Policing Board that he wants a former senior PSNI officer to

clarify his claim that Downing Street asked for the release of a

republican who was arrested for attempted murder.

Yesterday, retired Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter told a

committee of MPs an attempt had been made in 2007 to get republican Gerry

McGeough, seen here leaving court, released. He was being questioned

about a 1981 attempt to kill a UDR soldier. Mr McGeough was later

convicted of attempted murder. I have asked the deputy, who is

responsible for issues of conduct, and I have asked Mr Baxter to give

us an account of what happened, why whom and when. I would liken to

explain his statement yesterday so we can make an assessment.

A twenty-three-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 eight o'clock 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.

Jim Allister is to stand in the forthcoming European elections. The

former MEPs said he would be offering voters the chance to

improve representation in Brussels, and give their verdict on the

performance at Stormont. 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 Championship itself

- to Northern Ireland. Stephen Watson reports.

A hole in one for the First Minister, on the day the Executive

delivered to professional golf tournaments. But a third, and the

biggest of them all, could be on the way. Go see Asians are at an

advanced stage to bring the Open back to Northern Ireland for just

the second time. -- negotiations are at an advanced stage.

I am still confident that we are capable of coming -- it is capable

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

They are way past the early stages. I am not going to come out why we

are still talking, to indicate the level of confidence I have. As I am

determined to ensure that we put every effort we can in order to

bring the Open to Northern Ireland. For now, a deal has been struck with

the European Tour with the Irish Open's return.

We are show showcasing one of the world's greatest events here at

Royal County Down. We know where we are going in the south, and this is

simply a tremendous day for the Open tour.

Royal County Down has staged big tournaments before, like the British

senior open. And the amateur Walker Cup which saw

Rory McIlroy play the world-famous links. That is the first time in 75

years that the Irish Open will have been held here. It will be great for

the course to have such fabulous players playing on it.

We are consistently ranked high in the world, and Northern Ireland as a

whole will benefit. It will bring golf tourists into the whole of

Ireland, not only the North. Lough Erne will host the event for

the first time. We've got Northern Ireland coverage now with the Irish

Open. It's going to be wonderful. The golf

course is certainly able to take this event, and I think that the

tour pros will have a wonderful time playing here. So it's a double

celebration for goals in Northern Ireland, with good news possibly

still to come. Now with the weather here's Angie

Phillips. Many of us had a gloomy day to day,

and it will remain overcast overnight. Central and western areas

should stay bright. Further pulses of rain. There is some uncertainty

about how far inland that rain will get, but there is certainly

potential for heavy bursts. The Met office has a rain morning in place.

Be aware that there is a risk of localised surface water flooding.

The rain should be out of the way by tomorrow morning, and things are

improving by the afternoon. Many of us are looking at dry weather. It

will be gloomy and grey with mist and hill fog to start with, although

the rain should clear away quickly. Across the Republic of Ireland, it

is starting to Brighton after a dull start. Also also brightening parts

of Wales. It's mainly dry and the air quality is certainly better than

in recent days, as the wind changes direction. It is still quite warm -

up to 70 degrees. A weather front is lying across here bringing further

spells of rain and a chilly wind. -- up to 17 degrees. In Northern

Ireland, it does look a little bit brighter with hazy spells and one

too scattered showers. Most places are drying with highs of 13 or 14

degrees. Similar temperatures into the weekend, but rather unsettled

with further spells of rain at times.

That's it for now. You can keep up to date with News Online and follow

this programme on Facebook and Twitter. From BBC Newsline - good

night.