17/02/2017 BBC Newsline

More questions are being asked about money received by the DUP

for an advert in a UK newspaper during the Brexit campaign.

In a BBC interview, Arlene Foster said she couldn't remember how much

was involved but said it was properly accounted for.

Here's our Political Correspondent Stephen Walker.

Last year's EU referendum campaign was all about

The argument was about whether the UK would be better or worse off

being in the European Union, and advertising was seen as key.

During the battle for votes, the DUP took out a newspaper advert

Last night on the leader's debate, Arlene Foster was challenged

Did your party get payment for the advertising?

Can you tell us here now who the donations are from?

They're from an organisation in England that wants to see the union

kept, and to make sure we have a United Kingdom.

Later on the BBC programme The View, the DUP leader was challenged again.

I don't have the figure so I don't know how much it was.

I'm not here to speculate, I don't have the figures.

You received a large amount of money and you have no idea?

I'm not saying I have no idea, I'm saying to you it was

While this relates to the EU referendum, the general issue

Stormont parties are not required to reveal sources of donations.

If this donation had been made to it political party in the rest

of the United Kingdom, when the Electoral Commission

announces its findings, we would see who made that donation.

But because that donation for the Brexit campaign was made

through a Northern Irish party, we won't find out who got the money.

Last month, the Secretary of State wrote to the parties

asking for their views on whether it was time

Some argue that change needs to happen immediately.

We would like to see full transparency, like the rest

of the UK, like most of the rest of the world, as soon as possible.

If it can be done, by 2nd March, so people are making

Some are suggesting the parties should independently

The parties completely have it within their gift

this is where the money came from and this is what it was for.

It's hard to believe that a significant donation of this size,

over ?250,000, much more than any party in Northern Ireland would

normally get, that they cannot remember who it came from.

The DUP spokesman said there was no plans to name the donor and refused

to answer whether there are any additional fees

The spokesperson said all these are registered

with the Electoral Commission, and details of funding would be

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that its former minister,

Michelle O'Neill, only learned of the huge hole in

the Renewable Heat Incentive budget as the scheme was closing.

There'd been criticism of the Sinn Fein leader at Stormont

after it emerged her department had facilitated dozens of events for

farmers at which the controversial scheme was promoted.

The department says Mrs O'Neill only found out about the budgetary

pressures on the scheme when she received a letter

from Jonathan Bell, the then DETI minister in February 2016,

Police say those who shot a 16-year-old boy in west Belfast

last night are predators operating with no accountability.

The teenager was shot in the leg at Forest Street,

The attack came just 24 hours after another shooting in the area.

One resident described hearing something outside on the street.

There was a noise, and I said it must be the TV.

The shooting here is the second to happen in 24 hours

On Wednesday night, a man was shot a number of times in both legs

Police say it's too early to both attacks.

The shots on Wednesday night were recorded on the mobile

Police believe dissident republicans may be behind both attacks.

We are hugely concerned, as the community is as well.

The incident last night was a 16-year-old boy.

We are calling it what this is - these are predators operating

in the community with no accountability, skulking

the shadows, running away after they've used a young boy

We find that violent dissident republicans use this behaviour all

the time. The Secretary of State described

the attack as shocking and brutal. Those who work in the community

say they're concerned about what appears to be a rise

in so-called punishment shootings. What I would say very

clearly is that we condemn Police say they've increased patrols

in the area and have called on the community to help them

catch those responsible. BBC Newsline has learned

that two councils here - Belfast and Derry City and Strabane

- are to work on a joint bid to become European Capital

of Culture in 2023. Although the title is usually

awarded to a single city, the councils say a joint approach

has more chance of success. Here's our arts correspondent,

Robbie Meredith. I'm sorry to say that it is bad news

for us. We've been here before,

and the party fell flat. But over a decade since Belfast's

last attempt failed, it's now set to try again,

this time with help The City Council is exploring

a combined bid with Derry, UK capital culture four years

ago, and Strabane. According to Belfast Council

documents seen by the BBC, officials say a joint bid would be

a stronger proposition, A bid has to be made by October

2017, and would cost up Council committees in both cities

have just backed the proposal so it is early days but they are being

told to proceed. Keeping our profile high in Europe

at the moment is great. This is a very much a first step,

but that does not make it a fantasy. A UK city is set to be

European Capital of Culture Cities like Leeds and Dundee have

already thrown their hats into the ring, Belfast,

Derry and Strabane will have to act more quickly to catch up,

but at the moment it is very much Football, and in the Irish

Premiership tonight, there were wins The games between Linfield

and Portadown and Cliftonville and Glentoran both

ended in 1-1 draws. And in ice hockey, the Belfast

Giants lost 4-3 to Cardiff. Now let's get the weather prospects

for the weekend, with Cecilia Daly. A bit of a damp night out there.

There will be some rain and drizzle and if anything it will become more

persistent from the West. Quite foggy over the hills but at least it

is mild. The mild theme continues over this weekend. Some of that damp

drizzly weather will return on Sunday. Temperatures continue to be

above-average. You might miss the worst of the dampness tomorrow as it

will be early. By around the middle of the morning most places are dry

and skies will start to Brighton. There will be some sunshine across

the Republic and towards the east coast. Cloud across Scotland and

northern England were some drizzle. It is largely dry in the south of

England. Quite springlike tomorrow afternoon in Northern Ireland. Most

places will stay dry. It should feel quite nice at the rugby. Damp

drizzly weather in the West on Sunday. The best of the dry and

bright weather in the East. Temperatures could reach 15 degrees

on Monday. We're back at 5:20pm

tomorrow evening. In the meantime, you can also keep

updated with News Online.