03/03/2017 BBC Newsline

The biggest election turnout since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

There's been a surge in support for Sinn Fein -

Thank you so much to the electorate who have come out in strong numbers.

The vote has been increased because people know that action had to be

taken. They have had their say. The DUP called very notion that home in

a backdrop of the heating scandal. People want the Executive band

running and the Assembly and Executive to work on issues that

matter to them. Its leader Naomi Long tops the poll

in East Belfast but there have been big-name losses for the SDLP and the

Ulster Unionists. It hurts a lot. It is disappointment. I have had the

honour to represent this constituency since 1998. Good

evening. As the counting continues this Assembly election has produced

an increase in support for Sinn Fein. The DUP has largely held its

place. Alliance also saw an increase

in its share of the vote, but it hasn't been such a good day

for the Ulster Unionists The first big shock of the day

was Alex Attwood, the long-standing SDLP Assembly member,

losing his seat in West Belfast. And late this afternoon

the Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy, who also served as a Stormont

Minister, was eliminated More people went to

the polls this time round. 64.8% of the electorate voted -

that's up ten points In a moment we'll travel

round all of the count centres to get an update on what's happening

where you are. First Mark Simpson gives us

an overlook at the state Thank you. This is what it is all

about after all. Seats in the chamber. More than 30 have now been

filled so let's see how things are shaping up. The largest party so far

is... Sinn Fein. They have 16 seats. Around half of the seats filled so

far. If we move across the chamber and see how the DUP are getting on,

they are lagging behind at the moment with nine seats. They got 38

last time. They want at least 30 this time. They have a long way to

go but they do have time to close the gap and overtake Sinn Fein. We

will see. What about the other parties? Fiddle to the back of the

chamber we see the Alliance Party, a good that's what we go. Four seats

with them, a good day so far. It is not so good for the unionist benches

with Mike Nesbitt, only three seats so far. If we look at the SDLP they

have only got two. I have just heard that has now increased to three.

Good news there for Colum Eastwood the SDLP leader. One more seat to

tell you about, Gerry Carroll from People Before Profit. He has been

returned to Stormont from West Belfast. Those are the scores so far

but it is early days. This was a football match it wouldn't even be

half-time. A long way to go. The counting will continue this

evening, but the final line-up of MLAs is not expected to be

confirmed until tomorrow afternoon. Our political correspondent

Enda McClafferty has been keeping a close eye on the winners

and losers so far. The party's gamble to call

the snap election paid off We have seen strong Republican women

elected here today. I think it is an amazing day and we are delighted.

Thank you so much to those who have come out in strong numbers. The

thought has increased because people know that action had to be taken. We

need to get down to business and deliver for all substance because we

believe in equality. Key to the party's success

was the big rise in turnout, up on average of 10% on the last

Assembly poll. But as Sinn Fein celebrated,

the SDLP lamented the end of an era in West Belfast -

once a party stronghold. Clearly and personally disappointed

but I am much more disappointed for the party in West Belfast. Much more

disappointed from the SDLP supporters in West Belfast. I feel

much more for the party and for people in the constituency than I do

for myself. Disappointing though this outcome has been, after so many

elections and actually so many close calls.

And the Ulster Unionists also lost a long serving stalwart

in its former minister Danny Kennedy.

Yes, it is disappointing, but these things happen in politics. As in

Powell said, more political careers end in tears. I think prefer

Stevenson when he was defeated, he was too tired to laugh and too old

to cry. Last year's success story had little

to celebrate this time, as Eamon McCann predicted

he is likely to lose his seat, As the campaign went on I didn't

really feel I was storming the Winter Palace. It felt more like

Custer's lust and because the parties in West Belfast through a

hell of a lot of resources against People Before Profit. And here is

another familiar face who may well be out of a job as we can. If I lose

my seat it was very much because we were trying to balance the

constituency. We took the view that that is a risk that it was worth

taking to maximise the number of DUP boats in the Assembly and to try to

maximise the DUP performance inside of us. -- UB votes.

But the DUP vote held in other places, and the party easily faced

down the challenge of their former minister Jonathan Bell.

When myself and myself -- Michelle McIlveen, very high totals in first

and second place. Peter Weir polled exceptionally well and we will have

to wait for the later stages but we remain hopeful of holding on for the

three seats. The Ulster Unionist Party failed to make gains and their

party leader wasn't for talking. No such worries for Alliance

as they remained on course We wanted to offer people a positive

alternative and that's what we did. We talked about what we would do

differently and try to re-establish the Assembly on a footing that would

be sustainable but also able to deliver for people and a deep people

responded and connected with that message.

Elsewhere it was a day of mixed fortunes for others.

The Green Party are on course to retain their two seats,

while once again the TUV has failed to increase its numbers.

But as the big two party's prepare for post-election

negotiations, there was no hint of a thaw in relations.

You remember the UDR? Ye are not the person that should be sitting

there... With respect... With all due respect to you...

The final make-up of the next Assembly will not be known

We have reporters at every one of the counting centres.

Let's start with the biggest centre in Belfast, and Tara Mills.

Well, Donna, you join me in our studio here at

the Titanic Exhibition Centre where 20 MLAs will be

elected across the four Belfast constituencies.

So, what are the big stories here so far?

Well, probably the biggest name to lose a seat is the SDLP's

The Alliance leader Naomi Long has been re-elected with an increased

As has Sinn Fein's Mairtin O'Muilleoir in South Belfast.

Counting continuing in North Belfast but no one has been collected there

yet. With me now is Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill and

the DUP's East Belfast and Pete Gavin Robinson. Michelle, a good day

for Sinn Fein, the gamble paid off? A good day for Sinn Fein and

equality and also for democracy. The turnout is up by 10% and that shows

that people are motivated to come out and vote. To take a stand

against anti-corruption and anti-Brexit and for an and respect

and integrity in the institutions. It has been a great result and we

are very grateful to the people who have come out and voted to return

eight strong Sinn Fein team. We know how to do for the future and how we

will conduct ourselves in the next three weeks. My negotiating team is

ready to go and get stuck into dealing with the outstanding issues

which we need to deal with because we have always said consistently

what we don't need is another agreement, we need implementation.

We are up for that and we will come at it with a political leadership

and a will to try and find a way forward. But you sit in the

Executive of Arlene Foster? While she has a shadow hanging over her no

one can sit with her and supporter in offices of deputy of First

Minister. That doesn't mean we can't find a way forward. That is over to

the DUP to decide how they want to conduct themselves. People are angry

and that has been borne out by the people who have come out to vote.

For me today when a look at some of our candidates elected, all great

people, but it has been a strong day for women. To see so many young

women topping the poll in all constituencies is a good message and

a good news story for women in politics and it

bodes well for the future. Gavin Robinson, clarify this point about

Arlene Foster, can you see a situation where she would step aside

and not nominators but Mr? She knows she has our backing. She knows she

has the backing of the people in her constituency and south Tyrone but

right across Northern Ireland where the vote has held up in

extraordinary circumstances. We would never have picked the

atmosphere we have had to fight the selection in but the percentage of

votes share is holding up right across the province of it is a good

thing. That means that people understood and respected the message

we were bringing to them. But for all the nice dog and platitudes you

get from Sinn Fein is a hard end agenda there -- might talk. The need

responsible but strong unionists but Arlene continues to have our backing

and she is the leader that we place our trust in and the people are

placed their trust and to carry that board. So we are guaranteed no

Executive? We are guaranteed negotiations, no doubt about that.

Whether they last three weeks or three months or six months there is

a period of sustained period where we have an absence of Assembly and

that is in no 1's interests. That is why people save the election was in

the selfish interests of Sinn Fein, not on the interest of Northern

Ireland, we don't want no budget for public services or a situation where

we cannot engage in Brexit discussions where we do not have

Assembly. But you are not ruling out Arlene Foster stabbings aside and

not becoming First Minister? We support Arlene Foster. Not only the

support of the party but the people. The percentage share right across

Northern Ireland has been remarkable in extraordinary circumstances.

Michelle O'Neill, you have got the people to come out and vote and

there is an increase across the board and increased turnout. Can you

guarantee of those people who have taken a chance on Sinn Fein but this

time, maybe didn't before, there will not be a return to direct rule

or is that secretly watch Sinn Fein want? Absolutely, we would never

want direct rule. It would fail again. We want to find forward. We

believe and institutions. Nobody worked harder than Martin McGuinness

to make the institutions work and we believe it is in the public interest

to held accountable ministers taking decisions but you can't have a

government that doesn't have equality and respect at its core and

that is not true to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement and

where the public don't have faith in the integrity of the people making

decisions so clearly we have a lot of work to do to deal with those

issues but we want to get in there and we ask for the mandate to try

and tackle the issues and get back in but we don't need a new agreement

so I think it is doable in the weeks if there is the right attitude. We

said consistently we are not referring to the status quo and we

mean it because we can't. It is not in the public interest. We have to

have equality in government. How would you describe the relationship

between Sinn Fein and the DUP, Gavin? Not only did Sinn Fein plunge

us into this crisis but they made the election period incredibly

difficult in the demands they put forward, the route crests that they

had is dressed up as latitudes. It is one-sided for justice, legacy,

language and one-sided on their future view of how Northern Ireland

should evolve. Three weeks I think is a tad optimistic. Still some work

to be done obviously but thank you both of you for joining us. Let's

find out what is happening in the other camp centres with Keiron

Tourish in Foyle. Yes, here at the Foyle arena the count is continuing

for East Londonderry and Foyle. The story of the day has been the

Impreza performance of Sinn Fein. For the first time ever the party

has outpolled the SDLP on first preference votes and who would have

ever thought that in a place that was once John Hume's backyard and a

Bastian and citadel of the SDLP? That has resulted in Sinn Fein

retaining the two receipts for Elisha McCallion who topped the poll

and the former hunger strike. Sinn Fein say that vindicates the stance

taken by Martin McGuinness. For the SDLP the leader: Colum Eastwood has

been re-elected in the last half-hour. He is expected to be

followed by Mark H Durkan. Who will be the big loser in Foyle? It looks

like it will be Eamon McCann from People Before Profit and it looks

like Gary Middleton the standard-bearer for the DUP will

retain his seat. Here in Bangor it has been a good day for the DUP. In

North Down and Strangford they've topped the poll in both

constituencies, took two seats in North Down and on course to take

three and Strangford. Strong votes for Alliance and the Greens but the

threat from Jonathan Bell never came in Strangford and it looks like the

DUP will take three there. They very disappointing day for the Ulster

Unionist. Although they took one seat in North Down it doesn't look

like they will take a second in Strangford putting pressure on Mike

Nesbitt. Now we go to, with Julian Fowler. A short time ago -- Omagh.

We had a recount in the second count at Fermanagh and Tyrone win the DUP

leader Arlene Foster was deemed elected. Although she topped the

poll with 8479 votes that left her 232 short on first preferences of

the quota. Part of the reason for the increased turnout had raised the

quota level on last year and although her personal vote dropped

on a year ago her party colleagues Lord Maurice Morrow, his vote

increased slightly. She spent much of her time here inside a conference

room away from the media and after she was deemed elected a short time

ago we requested an interview with her but she will not be speaking to

the BBC, we were told. The other story here is Sinn Fein. Michelle

Gildernew and Jemma Dolan on course for two seats. The former MLA Sean

Lynch could miss out. He is fighting for the last seat and it will come

down to SDLP transfers and whether they go to him with the Ulster

Unionist Rosemary Barton who is currently 500 ahead having done well

on second preference votes. In West Tyrone Sinn Fein pulled over 21,000

votes for the first time. Barry Michael Duff and Michaela Boyle were

elected along with the DUP candidate Thomas Buchanan -- Thomas Buchanan.

The big story in Banbridge is the loss of Danny Kennedy for the Ulster

Unionist Party. And increased turnout of 10%, and pretty

impressive vote for Sinn Fein. Three seat at the party in the Newry and

Armagh 's constituency. Danny Kennedy said the seat had been

washed away in the rising tide of Sinn Fein. He was very gracious in

defeat. He was making no predictions of his own future, nor any undue

criticism of his party leader. He signed off quite nicely, you may

have heard earlier, I am too tired to love and I am too old to cry.

Over in Upper Bann -- laugh. It is stepping up an interesting battle.

Carla Lockhart has been elected and she has been joined by her running

mate Jonathan Buckley. John O'Dowd is safe for Sinn Fein and it looks

like Doug Beattie is good for the unionist party and Jo-Anne Dobson

could be because castle deep but Dolores Kelly is making positive

noises about her bid for that fifth and final seat. In Lisburn and it

has been a slow day as far as the Lagan Valley count is concerned.

Just one candidate passed the post so far, the DUP's Paul Givan who

topped the poll and was elected after the first count. The story

will be and it might not emerge until tonight or tomorrow but it is

whether the DUP can hold onto three seats. I expect Edwin Poots to be

elected at some point but Brenda Hale their third candidate could be

in a fifth seed battle with Jenny Palmer of the DUP. Trevor Lunn of

Alliance has pulled very well and almost doubled his vote in Lagan

Valley and will be elected. Things are slightly more advanced in

Southdown. Two Sinn Fein candidates over the line, Sinead Ennis and

Chris Hazzard also elected, Sinead Bradley of the SDLP. All eyes on the

fifth seat where once again Alliance is doing well and is in with a shout

but it will probably go to: McGrath of the SDLP, two receipts, Jim Wells

will probably also be elected there. And I am in Ballymena, two camps,

Mid Ulster a strongly Republican area and the vote was up 14% and

that seems to have helped Sinn Fein to keep all three MLAs including

Michelle O'Neill. Their vote has been up. Plus the single unionist

candidate, the DUP's Keith Buchanan. Four seats, one left. Patsy McGlone

of the SDLP versus Sandra Overend of the Ulster Unionist Party. We hear

that Patsy McGlone is quietly confident and it seems that Sandra

Overend is vulnerable here. At the moment they are redistributing the

votes of five more candidates. Different story in North Antrim,

very strong unionist seat. Still no result here. No candidate selected

after ten hours. We are onto the fifth stage of exclusions. The quota

is about 8000 and the closest of that at the moment is Sinn Fein's

Philip McGuigan. He is apparently celebrating on social media even

though he has not been elected yet. People in contention here, Phillip

Logan of the DUP and Robin Swann of the UUP. We think it might go to the

UUP. Jim Allister of the TUV seems pretty safe here. Here in

Newtownabbey it is the south and east and camps. Both turnouts were

up more than 10%. -- Antrim. Sinn Fein's Declan Kearney came out top

of the poll and he was first elected in unionist dominated constituency.

The Ulster Unionist Steve Aiken was next and the Alliance Party David

Ford says he is confident he will be next in line. No DUP MLAs so far but

there are three candidates are fighting it out for those final two

seats. In East Antrim, last time round it was three DUP, one UUP and

one Sinn Fein. And one Alliance. David Hilditch was elected first

just like last year. Next up was the Alliance's Stewart Dickson and the

Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs. Sinn Fein's Oliver McMullan a little

vulnerable. He remains so. The remaining two seats are being fought

over by the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP. Ita Dungan ending our

round-up. Our Political Editor Mark Devenport is with me. The voters

have had their say. How do some things? Sinn Fein will be the

tonight. They have forced the election to the resignation of

Martin McGuinness and they will feel vindicated by putting on four

percentage points. They are the largest party in terms of the vote

share. The DUP has still achieve that. The DUP has gone down 1%. That

said, the DUP against the backdrop all the publicity about the

Renewable Heating Incentive will feel a real -- will lead to make

that the slip wasn't any bigger. They will feel may be a bit

emboldened that they have at least held onto the top spot. In regard to

the DUP, a lot of talk beforehand about their eligibility for the

petition of concern. We have a long way to go yet, but how vulnerable

are they on that? There are still a possibility they might lose out on

that if they were to only get 29 seats, they would not be able to

wield a petition of concern on their own because they need 30. That is

very much something we won't be able to probably answer until tomorrow

when we see how the final seats come through. Leaders are always under

pressure in an election, some more than others in the selection

according to the results? A lot of talk that Arlene Foster will be

under pressure because of the negative publicity but they think

the leaders of the most pressure with those of the official

opposition, particularly Mike Nesbitt of the Ulster Unionists

because even though the vote share has basically maintain the status

quo, they have tattooed, one would have to ask if they can't fight back

against the DUP in the circumstances what circumstances can they close

the gap? They seem unable to do it. A disappointing election for both.

The SDLP also. The Alliance have held their own even though others

have lost seats. How surprised you at the departure of Danny Kennedy

the seniors and Alex Attwood of the SDLP? It seems symbolic of the

difficulties faced by the two opposition parties. We have to also

remember that part of this is maybe not been able to capitalise on the

situation they found themselves in, part of it is also the fact that we

are seeing a shrinking Assembly from 108 seats down to 90. They were

clinging on to some of the last few seats. They were to some extent of

honourable. When the final vote is counted and we take stock of all

this, any signs in the conversations you have heard today that this is

going to move on? That is the problem. At the moment, not really,

because we still have the DUP in Sinn Fein has the power brokers

here. No doubt the secretary of State James Brokenshire will push

them to enter talks as soon as possible probably on Monday but

there is still a stand-off particularly over the dozens of

other Arlene Foster will be nominated as First Minister. She

might say, look, we are still the largest party in boats, we will have

to see how the seeds of doubt, why should I stand aside? No obvious

sign over the next few weeks of them resolving that. Or the many other

issues of which they are at loggerheads. Thank you.

In other news - "significant quantities" of human remains have

been discovered at the site of a former mother and baby

As our Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison reports,

the home in Tuam was one of ten institutions where it's believed

about 35,000 unmarried pregnant women were sent over

The Tuam home was one of ten institutions in the Republic and to

which an estimated 35,000 pregnant unmarried women were sent. It is

said that a child would die there every two weeks between the mid

1920s and the 1960s. The commission of investigation was set up to

examine allegations about the deaths of 800 babies there and also

concerned about the manner in which they were buried. Today in its

report it said that it found significant human remains in 17 of

the 20 underground chambers that it examined. It also said that the

ranges of age of death ranged between 35 feet oh weeks and between

two or three years. It says it was very shocked at the discovery. The

children's minister here said that what was uncovered was very

disturbing and very sad but not unexpected given what had been said

about what was going on there. She added facts now had replaced

speculation. A man wanted over the murder

of the prison officer David Black He was arrested yesterday

in County Donegal. Damien McLaughlin, who is originally

from County Tyrone, was due to stand trial last month for aiding

and abetting the murder of Mr Black in November 2012,

but he skipped bail. The 40-year-old was

remanded in custody. The biggest gas supplier

in Northern Ireland has Customers of SSE Airtricity

will see their bills go The company says the increase,

which comes into effect next month, will see an average household paying

an extra ?36 a year. It's blaming the rise

on global gas prices. The High Court has ruled

that the Northern Ireland Executive has failed in its legal obligation

to implement an Irish Mr Justice Maguire said

the Executive was in breach of pledges made

in the St Andrew's Agreement The case was brought to court

by the group Conradh na Gaeilge, who said plans to protect

and enhance the language must The Irish trio Andrew Trimble, Craig

Gilroy and Jared Payne have been named in the Ulster backline for it

tonight 's game against Bennett in Treviso at the Kingspan Stadium in

Belfast. Heavy rain led to a pitch inspection a short time ago but the

game is going ahead at 7:35pm. Live coverage is on BBC Two from 7:30pm.

Now the weather with Geoff Maskell. I promise no talk of politics in the

next couple of minutes but plenty of discussion of rain. The rain that

has been with us all day is staying because of a night and for that rain

the Met office has a severe weather warning for rain in place. That is

valid through until the middle of tomorrow. It has been very stubborn.

All driven by an area of low pressure gradually over the Irish

Sea. Gradually a distracting north of not quickly enough to ship this

rain so it stays with us overnight tonight. More mild than last night

because of all of that cloud, four or five Celsius. Saturday gets off

to a bit of a soggy start. The promise of something a bit better

later on in the day. As the centre of the low moves north gradually

will start to see the rain and cloud peeling back from the south-east

corner. The best chance of brightness across Strangford and the

Ards Peninsula. Through the day gradually the rain will be

increasingly confined along the north coast but still a pretty

miserable day. As we go overnight Saturday into Sunday we keep the

ring going. More showery in nature. A few more gaps between the showers

and hence temperatures drop away a bit more. A bit cooler than we see

overnight tonight. This is all driven by low pressure. Another

couple coming through. One on Monday and then another one on Tuesday.

They both bring plenty of rain with them. Sunday looking like the best

other days. Still some rain in the forecast but there will also be a

bit more brightness between the showers. At least the chance to get

out and do one or two bits between the showery rain. Dr Butler seven or

eight. Monday is a dry start but not long before the rain appears that

the next low-pressure system starts to work its way in. All in all it

is, I am afraid, rather soggy outlook for the next few days but at

least you can sit in tomorrow morning and watch the rest of the

election results because else would you be doing? Our late summary is at

10:30pm on BBC One and now we go back to the special election

programme, but from me, by