02/11/2016 BBC Newsline

This is BBC Newsline and these are the headlines

The other side of this argument might well get a vicious because

there are those who take a broad view of the fact that Britain has

decided to leave. The UDA leader Dee Stitt apologies

for controversial remarks he made Remembering the Disappeared -

the remains of four victims The Economy Minister rejects a call

for the work of an Invest NI company Tributes are paid to local

singer songwriter Bap Kennedy Martin O'Neill

takes on a Premier League boss who claims his player has been

"overloaded" by the Republic. And the weather

is about to take a more unsettled turn with rain and chilly winds

in the forecast. Downing Street has rejected

a suggestion from the Taoiseach that the process for the UK

to leave the European Union could be

triggered by the Prime Minister The Taoiseach Enda Kenny

raised the possibility at the Brexit conference

hosted by the Republic's government. Also in his speech he warned

about tone of negotiations in the EU The other side of this argument

might well get quite vicious after some time because there are those

around the European table who take a very poor view of the fact that

Britain has decided to leave. That argument will be fought very softly

and in a really difficult negotiating sense.

Politicians from across Ireland have joined business,

farming and civic leaders in Dublin for the conference.

The DUP and Ulster Unionist Party did not attend.

Our Dublin correspondent, Shane Harrison, joins us live.

Four months after the Brexit vote, nobody is quite sure what it means

or even when the negotiations would begin. Will there be a hard Brexit

or soft Brexit? Will the negotiations be constructive or

vicious? Or phrases that featured today. An appropriate place,

perhaps, to house those north and south feeling worried and bruised by

that most modern of problems, Brexit. We want to make it clear

that we are here to listen to the voices of the various sectors

because they have a unique perspective as to what Brexit might

mean and the consequences for the local economy. The voices of the two

main Unionist parties were not heard. There are absence noted by

other politicians. This is hugely problematic for us to deal with and

I wish they were here. Anyone should be here who has an interest in

trying to protect the interests of the people of Northern Ireland. I

think we are going to try and negotiate a special status for

Northern Island and I think it is important that we don't alienate

anyone today. So we can buy into getting the best agreement for

Northern Ireland. Special interest was something that all the parties

could agree on. Partly because of the local vote to stay within the

EU. Denmark is an EU member yet Greenland is outside the union. It

still receives European funding. Still unsure of what direction

Brexit will take, hard or soft, today's conference was a chance for

civil Society, farmers, businessmen and trade unions to have their say.

There has been no real audit of the impact of an EU exit. Listen to

myriad is a voices from across the island today, it is clear that every

aspect will be impacted, mainly adversely. It provides huge

challenges but also significant opportunities. We need to find out

what they are. The next step in the process tomorrow. The Taoiseach will

be at Stormont. Talks will continue but not with the DUP. That will be

for a later date. Shane, the Taoiseach has been

using some strong words today. What is that indicating? He made his

remarks about Brexit negotiations public, possibly happening by the

end of this year just before a Coffin Break. They were in scripted.

-- copy break. -- on scripted. Implying that they could begin

sooner than the end of March. When he spoke about the negotiations

possibly getting vicious he wasn't referring to matters between

Northern Ireland, Dublin and the UK but how the feeling is going in some

EU states who believe that Britain might want access to the single

market but with restrictions on immigration and he was implying that

for many EU states that is a non-runner. What has been the

reaction from Downing Street? Downing Street has said that as far

as the timing of the negotiations, they won't begin by the end of this

year. It could be January, February but they are talking about the end

of March at the latest. With regard to negotiations being Fishers,

Downing Street is saying that it hopes it will be constructive and

mature. -- fissures. Theresa May was asked to react to the idea that

there may be violence because of Brexit and to give assurance

relating to movement around the United Kingdom. I am happy to give

that assurance that no change will take place. What we are going to do

is ensure it is a good deal for the whole of the United Kingdom and

those who wish to encourage violence off the back of that should be

ashamed of themselves. It is essential that we all work together

to make a success of this and get the best possible opportunities for

people across the United Kingdom. Back here, after the conference,

people are very happy with the way things have gone but in terms of

Brexit negotiations, the North - South ministerial Council meeting is

going to be very important. It is something that both the DUP and the

government agree upon. The community organisation headed

by the UDA leader Dee Stitt says he's apologised for controversial

remarks in an interview Charter NI recently got nearly

two million pounds of public money. Its board says

it is addressing the matter Here's our political

correspondent Gareth Gordon. There has been confined fusion --

confusion since these comments emerged last month. The British

government doesn't give a BLEEPED About us. Dee Stitt's role as Chief

Executive has brought unwelcome attention because of his other

position as head of the UDA in North Down. Here he is with Arlene Foster

at a recent event approving the awarding of a ?1.7 million grant to

Charter NI from the social investment fund. Speculation about

his status increased this morning when Jeffrey Donaldson said he had

now step down from the ?35,000 per year role. I don't think we should

prejudice an entire organisation because of the actions of one

individual who has now stepped aside from their position. But Charter NI

could not confirm this was the case. In fact, a statement from the board

of the organisation added to the confusion. They said...

Asked directly if Dee Stitt was still in post, a spokesperson for

Charter NI said she couldn't comment. One thing is clear, this

statement has done nothing to placate the organisation's critics.

The CEO needs to resign and there needs to be an immediate suspension

of public money to Charter NI until there is a full investigation of

their governance arrangements. We need a public statement on this

matter. If there is not one, it will be perceived as standing with Dee

Stitt. It's not clear when the internal investigation will be over

what the outcome will be. The end of an era as the last

old-style railway signal cabin closes down.

The Independent Commission searching for the remains of the Disappeared

has acknowledged that as time goes on expectations of finding the

Today a wreath was laid at Stormont in memory of those still missing.

It was revealed that the search for one of them Seamus Ruddy is to

resume in France. They have been coming to Stormont to perform the

ceremony for ten years but as families they have waited longer for

the return of remains of their loved ones. Relatives and supporters of

those known as the Disappear walked in silence to lay a black wreath. So

far, the remains of 13 victims have been recovered. But for people like

Maria Lansky the search goes on. We all have families, uncles, sons,

brothers. No one would want to live the way that we live waiting on a

body coming home. It's not a natural thing. I just hope someone will take

pity on me. We've recovered seven sets of remains in the last ten

years. There are four outstanding at the present time and we are pursuing

lines of enquiry on all four of those. You will probably be aware

that Seamus Ruddy was murdered and buried in France and we are hoping

to deploy in France at the of this year or perhaps early next year to

start surging again for him. 44 years missing, it's a long time.

There's bound to be people out there who still have a memory of it. Maybe

we will get Joe back then. The black wreath has four white lilies on it

in recognition of the families who are still waiting to reclaim the

remains of the ones they lost. Tributes have been paid

to the Belfast singer-songwriter Bap Kennedy

who has died from cancer. Sir Van Morrison said he "was

loved by both fans and musicians Our Arts Correspondent

Robbie Meredith looks back. # What can I tell you, I was just a

kid... # I've no idea why did the things I

did... #. Born in West Belfast in 1962 Bap

Kennedy first found fame with the band Energy Orchard in the 1980s. He

established a reputation as a fine singer and songwriter. As he walked

through the streets he would take in everything around him. In every

situation he would take that in with people's relationships and life in

general. It was very forward thinking. His lyrics are very

forward thinking. His home city shaped his music. He sang about West

Belfast, about the areas around him. He loved Hank Williams. He was a

people's poet. His reputation led to collaborations with singers like

Steve Earle, who called him the best singer-songwriter he'd ever seen and

Van Morrison. His songs also soundtrack hit films. This song was

successful for me. It was in a movie called Serendipity. A very romantic

movie. When I got the money through, I got a bottle of champagne and a

packet of corned beef. # Into your loving arms...

# For a moonlight kiss... Close #

After diagnosis with cancer, he wrote a blog about his battle with

the disease. His death was announced last night. Remembering Bap Kennedy.

The economy minister has rejected a call

by an international human rights group for the Stormont Executive

to suspend the work of a company training security forces in Bahrain.

NI-CO, which is owned by Invest NI and is Belfast-based has worked

with the police and prison services in the Gulf state.

The Human rights group Reprieve says those Bahrain organisations

Our Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney reports.

Protests against the government in Bahrain are often met with tough

action. Last year, a ?900,000 contract was awarded to a Belfast

company to help train security forces in the country. NI-CO a

subsidiary of Invest NI is based in this building. It has been training

in the justice sector is for the last three years. This report was

highly critical of Bahrain's justice system and the contract. The human

rights situation in Bahrain is dire. The police are widely involved in

abuse. The prisons are widely reported to be the site of brutal

torture. There is no suggestion that NI-CO's staff are encouraging such

behaviour but there are calls to suspend work in the Gulf state until

it endorses... The director of the company defended

their record. Their letter said... Efforts to reform security sources

in Bahrain have failed, according to Reprieve. They have described the

response as alarming and accused the director of passing the buck.

The First Minister Arlene Foster has apologised

to a victim of the IRA bombing at the La Mon Hotel after the DUP

sang "Arlene's on fire" at its party conference in the venue.

In a video posted on social media conference delegates

sing their version of the Northern Ireland football chat

Mrs Foster has apologised to Billy McDowell who was injured

in the bomb attack which killed 12 people in 1978.

She said it was a spur of the moment thing and shouldn't have happened.

It's the end of an era today on the railways with the closure of the

last old-style signal cabin. It was designed in Victorian times but has

been replaced with new technology. We've been to Castle Rock to take a

trip down memory lane. Kevin Brown has been here for 20

years making sure the trains pass safely through Castlerock using a

series of levers. The mechanical system was devised hundreds of years

ago and on each leg of the journey, a driver hands over a token to the

signal man. It guarantees that the stretch of track travelled remains

clear for the train. It's inserted in that train. It informs other

stations about the progress of the train. It's invented by the

Victorians but it's possibly the safest system we've had. It's

ancient, getting old and we've got to move with the times. The system

was introduced around Castlerock in the 1850s when trains opened up the

area for commercial development. The railway encouraged people to build

houses in Castlerock to justify a station. It was used a lot for

agricultural goods, milk, cheese, butter. But the old system is being

replaced. It has stood the test of time but as we move forward into an

area where computer generation is used, the technology needs to move

forward. As part of an upgrade, there will be line closures and a

replacement bus service in place. Commuters are urged to check the

timetables for the latest information. For now, signalman

Kevin Brown is reflecting on his last day in work at the helm of a

system that has worked well for hundreds of years. Yes, it will be

sad. Hand on heart, it will be hard to walk away from her. The worst

part is going to be walking away from it but I will actually see her

demolished. That's when the tears are going to hit hard. That's life.

As one traditional day ends, another high-tech one beckons.

A row rumbling between Martin O'Neill and a Premier

Gavin Andrews is here now with all the sports news

Yes, Martin O'Neill today named the Republic of Ireland squad

to face Austria on Saturday in Vienna

in their World Cup qualifier, including Andy Boyle

and Daryl Horgan from Irish champions Dundalk.

But O'Neill also took the opportunity

at his press conference to respond to comments made by Ronald Koeman.

The Everton boss had claimed recently that midfielder

James McCarthy had been "massively overloaded" by the Republic

in last month's two World Cup qualifiers.

After five, six weeks out of football after his surgery, what I

heard from the medical staff, I know he played the full game, after three

group sessions, with Ireland, he played the second game, it's

massively overloaded. I totally refute that, obviously. To get an

opportunity to respond. James declared himself fit, he played the

first game. He didn't come off through injury, he came off through

tiredness. He actually trained at Everton on the very day that the

manager was bleating about. James McCarthy is included

in O'Neill's Republic squad. Boxing and amateur stars

Paddy Barnes and Steven Ward will make their professional debuts

at the Titanic Exhibition Centre But top of the bill

will be Jamie Conlan. The Super-flyweight has already

lined up a World title eliminator early next year,

and has been leaving nothing to chance in his pre-fight training

camp as Thomas Kane reports. Both inside and outside the ring,

Jamie, and is pushing his limit to the end. -- Conlan. If I train to my

limit every day, I will improve. Performance is all I've got in my

name. In training camp, I put myself through hell so I know when we get

into the fight, anything that is thrown at me, I can deal with it.

Conlan is based in Spain and has had to be patient to fight at this

level. You prepare your body for the endurance in the fight. I haven't

fought in Belfast in two and a half years, maybe. Last time was in an

outdoor, 18,000 seater venue. I won the Intercontinental beating a tough

Mexican. I still have the scar where I had ten or 11 stitches. When you

train every day, you put your life through boxing and you want rewards.

This is one of the rewards that I'm reaping, coming home, topping the

bill in your own stadium. Jamie Conlan is to become a world

champion. He is within touching distance of making that a reality.

The Ireland rugby squad have been taking in the sights

They've arrived in Chicago ahead of their historic fixture

against New Zealand at the famous Soldier Field on Saturday.

Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks, who come

into the game on a record run of 18 successive test wins.

Excitement has been building for the last few weeks and months. It is

geared perfectly towards this weekend and there is definitely a

lot of confidence and, hopefully, there will be an upset. It's an

unbelievable chance to create a bit of history. Personally, I've never

played against them so it will be great if I get minutes against them.

It's a serious opportunity. Tommy Bowe has been added

to the Barbarians squad to face Fiji And Ulster's Sean Reidy has signed

a three-year contract extension Finally, the Republic of Ireland

against Austria is on Saturday 12th of November.

Angie Phillips has the latest weather details.

Things are going to get more unsettled but at least today it was

fairly quiet. The sparkling blue skies we had yesterday were further

south. More clout towards the west but it was still pleasant enough.

The cloud thin enough to allow some hazy sunshine to come through. While

we still have the thin cloud this evening it could become chilly

enough for a few spots in the countryside. If anything,

temperatures are on the rise as we go through the night with increasing

cloud and a south-westerly breeze. Rain moving into the North and west

later. Associated with a weather front which edges eastwards through

tomorrow. Beauxis A bars getting close together indicating a

freshening breeze. -- those isobars. We could well find the odd heavy

burst in the East but by late afternoon it should brighten up from

the West again. There will still be showers and it will feel cool on the

breeze with highs of 10-11 Celsius. Clear spells and showers left behind

it. Into Friday, a band of more persistent rain working south

through the morning. Some heavy bursts on that. The sun comes in

behind it once again. But behind it showers, some potentially with hail.

The wind shifting around from the north again. A blustery, quite cold

weekend. Some sunshine but heavy showers as well.

Our late summary is at half past ten.