30/12/2016 BBC Newsline

The Ulster Unionist leader has repeated his call for the First

It follows the release of a letter she sent to banks,

urging them to support businesses wanting to invest

in the controversial renewable-heat incentive scheme.

The overspend on the renewable heat incentive is expected to run to

It has now emerged in a letter she sent to banks in 2013,

which was released to the Newsletter, that

Arlene Foster encourage banks to look favourably on approaches from

businesses seeking finance for renewable technologies.

She also said the government would offer its support,

was reliable long-term and offered a good return on investment.

Opposition parties say the letter proves Arlene Foster

Was across every important detail of this scheme.

Mrs Foster has woven a web in which she is now entangled,

telling the banks that this term will last for 20 years

and that the subsidy is never going down,

but telling the rest of us she is going to close the scheme and save

The only honourable way out of this mess is for her to resign.

Sinn Fein have repeatedly call an independent investigation.

The Department for Economy has issued a statement,

defending the minister's letters in 2013.

They say action to encourage uptake was being considered,

It also said the flaws in the scheme had not been recognised at the time.

In a statement a short time ago, the DUP's Simon Hamilton said

the contents of the letter served to underline the misapprehension

the department was then working under, rather than expose knowledge

He said his party supports an investigation free

State papers from the 1980s have revealed how much the British

authorities discussed the public image of the Ulster

One document covers the period in 1989, after the Stevens Inquiry

prompted the arrest of 28 serving UDR members.

The papers released today cover several years up

to and including 1990. Will Leitch reports.

For over 20 years, the UDR supported the RUC

and the regular army - and were regarded

as either protectors or a sectarian force.

The regiment was dogged by allegations of collusion and

some members were convicted of murder and other serious crimes.

The Stevens Inquiry was tasked to look into those allegations

and, when 28 serving members of the UDR were arrested in

October 1989, the State papers now released showed the regimental

Colonel Dennis Faulkner tackled the Northern Ireland Secretary

He said first he thought the raids on the UDR was coordinated by such

a large police force on one Sunday morning

that they had put his force on a par with terrorists.

Secondly, he believed it was to please Dublin.

There had been covert political interference.

Both of these were rejected by the Secretary of State.

He said he would welcome a rigorous enquiry.

Vetting became a major problem, because people joined for

short periods. They said there must be

greater emphasis on RUC involvement, police involvement,

and there must be an important element of retention.

You can't just drift in and out of this force and get arms training.

That becomes a major concern and there is pressure

He said one-third of the UDR were dangerous.

In a different document released by the Public Record Office,

it has emerged that, in 1989, Northern Ireland Secretary

Peter Brooke was interested in having a new experience

for him - attending a Gaelic football match.

The papers show that enthusiasm in 1989 came from

an unlikely, but colourful, report by the British

He had been to the final between Antrim and Tipperary

He talked about Nicholas English, the Tipperary forward,

who was something of a Houdini during the match.

It was one small step for Irish relations.

More papers are due to be released in the New Year.

The old tropical ravine in Belfast's Botanic Gardens is in the middle

?4 million is being spent creating an educational centre

and breathing new life into the Victorian

tourist attraction. Our reporter David Maxwell

got exclusive access to the construction site.

Before he travel on television, this building give people a view of the

tropics. It attracted thousands of visitors, keen to see such exotic

plants as ballet in the tropics. It attracted thousands of visitors,

keen to see such exotic plants as a leather trees. But it has been in

need of constant maintenance down the years.

The last major renovation was 36 years ago. In May 2014, work began

to strip it back to its beer bones. It is a very important historical

said. But we wanted to be of benefit to the people built first four

people in the future, not just for people who live here, but for people

who visit, for two years. Internal construction is now under way. They

are going to restored Victorian features with the 21st-century

twist. Most of the plans have been removed from tropical ravine the,

but one which have been here for over 100 years are being is

protected by the special tent which is keeping them at special

temperature. The work will see new double glazing, new sandstone a new

educational displays. It turns out it is a much bigger project than

originally envisaged. One of the things we're very pleased about is

educational side of the tropical ravine. The work is due to be

completed next year, when the building will once again harmless

the poor of the sun to bring the tropics to Belfast. -- power.

Tonight on BBC One, there is another chance to see

a BBC Newsline special, which looked back at

the European Football Championships in the summer.

It was one big festival of football for the fans in France.

We followed them, as they followed the teams.

Every twist and turn, every step of the way.

And that programme is at 7.30pm here on BBC One.

Flights between Ireland and Britain have been disrupted this evening,

We can now have the latest weather forecast, with Barra Best.

We are all in for a very mild late. Temperatures may be just touching

into double figures, well above average for this time of year. To

begin with tomorrow, a lot of cloud, but the chance of some sunny gaps

during the course of the morning. That dream will push on from West to

East. Temperatures reaching 9-10 C. Travelling tomorrow, the rain will

be very strong at lunchtime. The rain will sink its way south during

the course of the day. If you are heading out tomorrow evening, the

rain will gradually push its way south and east cleaning by about

eight or nine o'clock. But temperatures will tumble once the

rain moves out the way. We could see some sleet and snow over the hills

and mountains as temperatures drop to freezing or below. A very cold

temperatures of just 5-6 C. If you temperatures of just 5-6 C. If you

are out new the north coast on New Year's Day, you will notice that

baiting wind. Things largely settled going into next week, but staying

cold. Until then, you can keep up to date

with local news on BBC Radio Ulster What's the very worst thing you can

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