0:00:16 > 0:00:21Good evening. The headlines: As steep rise in electricity prices is
0:00:21 > 0:00:28on the way. A man who killed a teenager but was not jailed is now
0:00:28 > 0:00:35in prison after offending again. Northern Ireland once again tops
0:00:35 > 0:00:41the class in the GCSE results but fewer students get higher grades. I
0:00:41 > 0:00:45am in Castlereagh where a report into the awarding of a council
0:00:45 > 0:00:50contract to Iris Robinson's lover will be presented to councillors
0:00:50 > 0:00:55tonight. And after heavy showers and thunderstorms, are there any
0:00:55 > 0:01:01signs of improvement? I will have the weather later. Businesses and
0:01:01 > 0:01:06households that are already finding it difficult to make ends meet. Now
0:01:06 > 0:01:13electricity prices are going up. In just over five weeks they will all
0:01:13 > 0:01:16see an 18.6 per cent rise in the cost of electricity. As our
0:01:16 > 0:01:24consumer affairs correspondent has been finding out, the burden will
0:01:24 > 0:01:32be felt across the board. Running Africa may be a minor part of most
0:01:32 > 0:01:38domestic electricity bills but for this picture's shop, an 18 point
0:01:38 > 0:01:44six percent increase is a chilling prospect. It will be very
0:01:44 > 0:01:50detrimental because of the amount of the refrigeration we require.
0:01:50 > 0:01:57Our electricity bill for this shop here is in excess of over �100 per
0:01:57 > 0:02:03week. This rise is very alarming. We are struggling for a business
0:02:03 > 0:02:08with less people on the streets due to the recession. Consumers, to
0:02:08 > 0:02:14know all about the recession. Domestic customers will also be
0:02:14 > 0:02:22paying more. The typical household would see their annual bill
0:02:22 > 0:02:26increase by �92. I cannot believe the increase now today, I have just
0:02:27 > 0:02:32heard, we will have to cut back and make sure we switch more off at
0:02:32 > 0:02:38night and even during the day, things we do not need. Electricity,
0:02:38 > 0:02:45which now has around 50,000 customers, is also increasing its
0:02:45 > 0:02:51prices. It will continue to try to take market share by offering
0:02:51 > 0:02:57discounts. Northern Ireland simply cannot escape the sharp rise in
0:02:57 > 0:03:03power generation costs. We last changed our prices in 2009, since
0:03:03 > 0:03:09then the cost of wholesale fuel has gone up by 60 per cent. We have no
0:03:09 > 0:03:17other choice but to increase our prices are which will add about
0:03:17 > 0:03:23�1.77 to the typical customer's bill per week. The Consumer Council
0:03:23 > 0:03:27says higher electricity prices will put another 52,000 households here
0:03:27 > 0:03:32in two fuel poverty. The price increase will leave consumers here
0:03:32 > 0:03:37paying about five per cent more for electricity than their counterparts
0:03:37 > 0:03:46in Scotland, but still 10 per cent less than their counterparts in the
0:03:46 > 0:03:51republic. We have a spokesman from the electricity regulator, can
0:03:51 > 0:03:58anything be done to help us believe us of this electricity price
0:03:58 > 0:04:03burden? Unfortunately this increase is unavoidable. We have scrutinised
0:04:03 > 0:04:09the proposals extensively and got it down to 18 per cent. We have
0:04:09 > 0:04:13seen similar rises in Ireland and the rest of the UK over the last 12
0:04:13 > 0:04:20months. If you opened the competition up to even more
0:04:20 > 0:04:30suppliers, would that make any difference? It would. We already
0:04:30 > 0:04:31
0:04:32 > 0:04:36have alternatives. Some offer a substantial discount. We are
0:04:36 > 0:04:44expecting more into the market later in the year. So the prices
0:04:44 > 0:04:49will come down? It is possible. countries like France there is as
0:04:49 > 0:04:54social tariffs. Down south, pensioners do not have to pay as
0:04:54 > 0:05:00much. Is that something that you as a utility regulator should be
0:05:00 > 0:05:03imposing? That is a decision that would rest with the Northern
0:05:03 > 0:05:10Ireland executive. One of the things you have to remember is that
0:05:10 > 0:05:20it is a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. The bell still has to be
0:05:20 > 0:05:27
0:05:27 > 0:05:34paid by consumers. - D Bell. -- the bill. We suffer from an economy of
0:05:34 > 0:05:37scale. The situation has improved recently and in the years ahead
0:05:37 > 0:05:43becoming part of a broader regional market in Europe will improve
0:05:43 > 0:05:50things further. That means more into connectors on this island and
0:05:50 > 0:05:57Between the islands. A speeding driver who knocked down and killed
0:05:57 > 0:06:02a teenage girl will now go to jail. He was originally given a suspended
0:06:02 > 0:06:09sentence but back in court today following another offence he was
0:06:09 > 0:06:14sent to prison for 18 months. girl was 18 when she died. She was
0:06:14 > 0:06:20coming home from a wedding four years ago. As she walked along this
0:06:20 > 0:06:27road she was hit by a car and thrown through the air. She landed
0:06:27 > 0:06:3150 metres away and died at the scene. The car was driven by Martin
0:06:31 > 0:06:36McDonnell from East Belfast. At his trial he pleaded guilty to causing
0:06:36 > 0:06:43death by dangerous driving and was given an 18 month suspended jail
0:06:43 > 0:06:47sentence. The family of the victim were outraged. When he said 18
0:06:47 > 0:06:53months I got there was no way he was going to see suspended. When he
0:06:53 > 0:06:59did say that I was absolutely shocked. He admitted what he had
0:06:59 > 0:07:03done, he should have got the maximum sentence, I think. Within
0:07:03 > 0:07:09idea of getting the 18 month suspended sentence he was a
0:07:09 > 0:07:14passenger in a stolen car which smashed into a minibus. He was
0:07:14 > 0:07:20convicted of aggravated vehicle theft, causing injury and
0:07:20 > 0:07:25obstructing police. He was sentenced to five months and that
0:07:25 > 0:07:31resulted in his 18 months suspended sentence becoming a jail sentence.
0:07:31 > 0:07:37The judge said there was no doubt that what he did was a flagrant
0:07:37 > 0:07:46breach of the sentence imposed. He said any breach would lead to the
0:07:46 > 0:07:53implementation of the sentence. Today, the family of the dead girl
0:07:53 > 0:07:58saved although it is good, sentences have to be longer.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03would actually have felt a lot better if the 18 months had been at
0:08:03 > 0:08:13least three years. We will move on but a Dell will always be there
0:08:13 > 0:08:16
0:08:17 > 0:08:24with us. -- Adelle. McDonnell was due to be released in five months'
0:08:24 > 0:08:32time but instead he will only be a fortnight into this 18 month
0:08:32 > 0:08:38sentence. GCSE results have been revealed and while overall the
0:08:38 > 0:08:43percentage of passes remains the same, there are fewer higher grades.
0:08:43 > 0:08:52Those with learning difficulties have their success measured in a
0:08:53 > 0:08:56different way. Some were delighted at getting better than expected
0:08:56 > 0:09:03results and some were still working out the implication of their grades,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07but at least the waiting was over. This school has a learning support
0:09:07 > 0:09:14unit for pupils with special needs. They are not expected to be high-
0:09:14 > 0:09:20fliers, but their results are still important. As long as she is happy.
0:09:20 > 0:09:26How hard did you have to work? Really hard, I just wanted to get
0:09:27 > 0:09:32as good as everyone else. This girl has done so well she wants to stay
0:09:32 > 0:09:38on at school. I want to do media, religion and I have not even
0:09:38 > 0:09:46thought of a third. Some are very modest but I know that the work
0:09:46 > 0:09:53they have put into a chief is incredible. Rules were tightened up
0:09:53 > 0:09:59so that pupils did not get outside help to improve their coursework.
0:09:59 > 0:10:05We were not being told anything, it means the result is 100 per cent
0:10:05 > 0:10:13years. Change could be on the way as the Department of Education is
0:10:13 > 0:10:20considering scrapping the modular system. The downside is that they
0:10:20 > 0:10:25are perhaps not mature enough to realise this is their GCSE. They
0:10:25 > 0:10:32are continually being tested and the importance of that then can
0:10:33 > 0:10:39slide. It does promote a reset culture. These students like that
0:10:39 > 0:10:46style. It is so much easier to do. You can try each time and if you
0:10:46 > 0:10:51feel you can do better, you have that chance to try. GCSEs are not
0:10:51 > 0:10:57the final chapter in education but it is important to get at least the
0:10:57 > 0:11:05basic qualification. Parents are still the number one influence on
0:11:05 > 0:11:11young people at this stage. It is decision time for the 72 girls who
0:11:11 > 0:11:15got their GCSE results here today. Some will decide to stay on at this
0:11:16 > 0:11:21school, others will decide their future lies in further education or
0:11:21 > 0:11:26the local grammar school. They understand that the only way to get
0:11:26 > 0:11:32a decent career in the future is to start with good qualifications. You
0:11:32 > 0:11:41have got your grades, what next? Is there anything GCSE students could
0:11:41 > 0:11:45start doing now to further their employment prospects? Your
0:11:45 > 0:11:54organisation tries to develop entrepreneurial skills in 15 and 16
0:11:54 > 0:11:59year-olds, how does that work? are trying to bring in a new
0:11:59 > 0:12:04generation of entrepreneurs. Kids get an opportunity to learn and
0:12:04 > 0:12:09develop strong business skills. are always told Northern Ireland is
0:12:09 > 0:12:19too heavily dependent on public sector jobs, how important are
0:12:19 > 0:12:21
0:12:21 > 0:12:25It is very important. I think we can get the children to get more
0:12:25 > 0:12:35involved in-company programmes. It will help them in all walks of life.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39
0:12:40 > 0:12:47Are they real companies? Absolutely. We can see some of the example
0:12:47 > 0:12:52continue the good work. For young people wanting to go to university,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56tuition fees are a factor. We have discovered that how much you pay
0:12:56 > 0:13:01could depend on where you live if a proposal passes through Stormont.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06Similar moves in Scotland are being challenged under European
0:13:06 > 0:13:11legislation. Here is our correspondent. We do not need to
0:13:11 > 0:13:16consult on the issue of student fee hikes. These hikes are several
0:13:16 > 0:13:21thousands of pounds. They are categorically ruling them out.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Promises in the heat of an election. This party was not alone pulls dot
0:13:26 > 0:13:30many parties pledged tuition fees would not increase above inflation.
0:13:30 > 0:13:36That means fees would be kept at just above �3,000. But finding the
0:13:36 > 0:13:40money is just one issue facing politicians. We have a problem.
0:13:40 > 0:13:46English universities have said that their fees are going to be about
0:13:46 > 0:13:51�9,000. It looks like we are determined to keep lower than that.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55About �3,000. We could get a lot of students from England and Wales. To
0:13:55 > 0:14:00prevent that from happening and raise extra money, universities are
0:14:00 > 0:14:04allowed to increase fees for Great Britain's students. Did legislation
0:14:04 > 0:14:09being drafted would force students from the rest of the UK to pay a
0:14:09 > 0:14:15lot more. People outside the European Union would pay the same
0:14:15 > 0:14:22as Northern Ireland students. right that somebody from Doncaster
0:14:22 > 0:14:27pays �9,000 and someone from Dublin �3,000? This is about fairness.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Londoner that studied at Queen's certainly thinks it is very unfair.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34I would have to reconsider my university choice because of things
0:14:35 > 0:14:39like maintenance and transport and flying back and forth from home and
0:14:39 > 0:14:45be tuition fees. It would not have been feasible for me to come to
0:14:45 > 0:14:51Queen's. This teenager lives here but said it would not help him
0:14:51 > 0:14:57escape higher fees. I cannot do my calls in Northern Ireland. I had to
0:14:57 > 0:15:01travel to England. The cost to travel there is around �1,000 plus
0:15:01 > 0:15:07all the other things that I bring with me. Then at the student fees
0:15:07 > 0:15:13which could get up to �9,000 and then accommodation. I could come
0:15:13 > 0:15:16out over three years with about �20,000 in debt. The minister
0:15:16 > 0:15:20responsible for universities was not available to talk about the
0:15:21 > 0:15:24proposals but is clearly under pressure from students over fees.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29What we would like to see is all students in Northern Ireland being
0:15:29 > 0:15:32treated equally. I am disappointed by the cuts being posed in
0:15:32 > 0:15:36Westminster. We want the Minister to come forward and make an
0:15:36 > 0:15:40attractive offer for people's to study in Northern Ireland and
0:15:40 > 0:15:45protect students. Stormont ministers will meet here on
0:15:45 > 0:15:48September 8th after the summer recess. It is not clear what is on
0:15:48 > 0:15:55the agenda but it is clear they cannot put this issue of much
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Still to come on the programme: Celebrating culture in stained
0:15:58 > 0:16:03glass. Nationalists say they want their own window at Belfast City
0:16:03 > 0:16:13Hall. And the last time they played, history was made, but how did
0:16:13 > 0:16:19
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Ireland's cricketers do today The British Medical Association
0:16:23 > 0:16:28which represents doctors said it is crucial that people that review
0:16:28 > 0:16:32social care talk to people that work on the front line. This latest
0:16:32 > 0:16:38review will see a panel of experts advising and challenging how
0:16:38 > 0:16:45services should be changed. But as we report, there is concern that
0:16:45 > 0:16:51the time frame of just 12 weeks is far too short. This review is just
0:16:51 > 0:16:56the latest episode in the local health drama. Experts have been
0:16:56 > 0:17:01appointed and their remit is to find out how care is delivered. But
0:17:01 > 0:17:07the final report will be much later. B team of five experts will be led
0:17:07 > 0:17:13by John Compton, Chief Executive of the Social Care Board and will
0:17:13 > 0:17:18include this professor from London. I would emphasise that this is not
0:17:18 > 0:17:23about money. People think this is about cards but it is really not.
0:17:23 > 0:17:29It is about what we can deliver. I want to have a public debate about
0:17:29 > 0:17:32what we can deliver. The review will look at potentially closing
0:17:33 > 0:17:37hospitals and amalgamating services and hospital sites and developing
0:17:37 > 0:17:41the role of care in the community. Most importantly, the public will
0:17:42 > 0:17:46need to be flexible and supportive. This has been one of the most
0:17:46 > 0:17:50divisive issues for the Stormont government. But we have had
0:17:50 > 0:17:53universal support in Northern Ireland. This review will be a
0:17:53 > 0:17:57waste of time and money if we do not have the political
0:17:57 > 0:18:02determination to carry through the recommended changes. Today's
0:18:02 > 0:18:08meeting heard that such a mammoth task will be completed in just 12
0:18:08 > 0:18:12weeks. People on the front line are asking it that time is enough.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17does seem to be a short consultation period. How do they
0:18:17 > 0:18:22intend to consult with all the groups in that short time? We will
0:18:22 > 0:18:28be asking for details as to how the consultation will be managed.
0:18:28 > 0:18:34minister became one of the third casualties of change when back in
0:18:34 > 0:18:4120108 lost the Accident and Emergency department here. -- back
0:18:41 > 0:18:49in 2010 they lost. But how much say what the public have in the
0:18:49 > 0:18:53process? How much are the experts prepared to listen? Councillors in
0:18:53 > 0:18:58Castle rear are being presented with a report about how a council
0:18:58 > 0:19:01contract was awarded to the former lover of Iris Robinson. The
0:19:01 > 0:19:05consultants were asked to investigate the role of councillors
0:19:05 > 0:19:09directly involved in the leasing of the Lock Keepers Inn to Kirk
0:19:09 > 0:19:17McCambley. Here is our correspondent had Castlereagh
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Borough Council. Remind us why this report was necessary. This
0:19:20 > 0:19:27investigation was set up after a BBC Spotlight programme back in
0:19:27 > 0:19:312010. Iris Robinson helped her then teenage lover open a cafe with
0:19:31 > 0:19:35money from two developers. The programme alleged that as a
0:19:35 > 0:19:40counsellor, she had not declared their interests at a beating when
0:19:40 > 0:19:44the council agreed to award the least. The council asked the
0:19:44 > 0:19:47consultants Deloitte to investigate. Then the council said a report
0:19:47 > 0:19:53concluded there was not any evidence of financial loss to the
0:19:53 > 0:19:56council. The council said they also concluded that there was not any
0:19:56 > 0:20:01impropriety from council officers or members directly involved in the
0:20:01 > 0:20:09awarding of the police. The Act was based on a draft report earlier and
0:20:09 > 0:20:12we hope now to get the full report. What will happen next? There will
0:20:12 > 0:20:18be a private presentation by Deloitte and that will be private
0:20:18 > 0:20:22and we will not have any press and public in that session. They will
0:20:22 > 0:20:28run through that report and after that session, the report will be
0:20:28 > 0:20:38released to the public. If you would like to get in touch with us,
0:20:38 > 0:20:46
0:20:46 > 0:20:50would like to get in touch with us, Belfast City Hall has invited
0:20:50 > 0:20:55submissions for a new stained glass window depicting Irish myths and
0:20:55 > 0:21:02legends. The funding is more than �20,000 and will be to displayed in
0:21:02 > 0:21:10public. Some people regard it as any imbalance with regard to what
0:21:10 > 0:21:13is actually displayed. -- an imbalance. We can see this one
0:21:13 > 0:21:18about the Royal Ulster Constabulary. It is in line with Unionist
0:21:19 > 0:21:23tradition in Belfast. This is connected with the British Army and
0:21:23 > 0:21:29the Association of the City hall. But this window he will be replaced
0:21:29 > 0:21:35by a new stained glass window which will depict the Irish mythology.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40This is part of the City Hall and has been over a decade. The story
0:21:40 > 0:21:44has been told from one particular perspective. People would argue it
0:21:44 > 0:21:51is fairly upper-class and male- dominated. What we are trying to do
0:21:51 > 0:21:56is bring the additional elements to dad. Whether you are Irish, British
0:21:56 > 0:22:00or wherever, you can come into this place and experience it properly.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05The programme has been agreed by everybody. We are making certain
0:22:05 > 0:22:11that everybody gets the right experience. It will cost about
0:22:11 > 0:22:17�20,000. Is that money well spent in the current economic climate?
0:22:17 > 0:22:21The Minister will pay 75 % and the council will pay the rest. It is
0:22:21 > 0:22:25one of several identical windows in the City Hall. It will be moved
0:22:25 > 0:22:30elsewhere because of its historical significance. When the design gets
0:22:30 > 0:22:40the go-ahead, the Irish mythology window should be installed
0:22:40 > 0:22:40
0:22:40 > 0:22:45alongside its contemporaries by Not even the weather could help
0:22:45 > 0:22:49Ireland's cricketers in Dublin. They were beaten by England in
0:22:49 > 0:22:57their one-day international by 11 runs. The home team's hopes of
0:22:57 > 0:23:02causing a big upset were dampened. This is what you call Irish
0:23:02 > 0:23:08cricket's summit in Dublin. It was your average day of breeze blocks,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12arm Brothers, tent pegs and a lot of sitting about. There were
0:23:12 > 0:23:19several rain interruptions and we wanted it the match would finish at
0:23:19 > 0:23:22all. But it did clear up and we did get some memorable cricket. This
0:23:22 > 0:23:29play will remember the day he caught and bowled England's Eoin
0:23:30 > 0:23:35Morgan. England were bowled out for 201 in 42 overs. The home team had
0:23:35 > 0:23:41a manageable target on paper. But the delays meant the target was
0:23:41 > 0:23:47revised to one and and 29. Kevin O'Brien, the World Cup hero against
0:23:47 > 0:23:54England in Bangalore had his supporters raising a glass. -- one
0:23:54 > 0:23:59had and 29. Eight came up short and England won by 11 runs. It was a
0:23:59 > 0:24:06bit frustrating coming off for rain and it was a bit disappointing. It
0:24:06 > 0:24:10was a very slow day but we gave it a crack. But the one consolation,
0:24:10 > 0:24:20an Irish man was delegated as man of the match but he was playing for
0:24:20 > 0:24:23
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Dreadful. Terrible conditions. Another Irish team is getting ready
0:24:28 > 0:24:31to play England on Saturday. Thousands of rugby supporters
0:24:31 > 0:24:36turned up at the Aviva Stadium to watch Ireland prepare for their
0:24:36 > 0:24:40warm-up match against England before the World Cup. It will be
0:24:40 > 0:24:44the first international for Stephen Ferris for more than a year. Andrew
0:24:44 > 0:24:49Trimble keeps his place on the wing. Captain Brian O'Driscoll is being
0:24:49 > 0:24:55rested but Ireland are determined to have the perfect World Cup send
0:24:55 > 0:24:58off. We need to focus on this one game. We need to put in a big
0:24:58 > 0:25:04performance for ourselves and the supporters before we get to New
0:25:04 > 0:25:13Zealand. We want a good long will run into the first game in the
0:25:13 > 0:25:17World Cup and we can start focusing. Good luck to them. As we head into
0:25:17 > 0:25:21that bank holiday weekend, what can that bank holiday weekend, what can
0:25:21 > 0:25:27we expect? The end of the summer holidays. Now the weather. It is a
0:25:27 > 0:25:34bit of a mixed bag. It is better looking than today. Many of us got
0:25:34 > 0:25:37showers. We had heavy downpours and thunder. Not the best but on the
0:25:37 > 0:25:43positive side, we have got a fantastic pictures in the past 24
0:25:43 > 0:25:49hours. Thank you to everybody for sending these. This was taken last
0:25:49 > 0:25:58night. It is quite turbulent in the West, or it was yesterday after
0:25:58 > 0:26:06being. -- yesterday. It is not too late to catch some showers. But
0:26:06 > 0:26:14they will gradually ease back to the coast tonight. Temperatures
0:26:14 > 0:26:18getting back to five or six degrees. Wind light and a chance of mist.
0:26:18 > 0:26:25Another day of sunny spells and showers. But the showers tomorrow
0:26:25 > 0:26:31should not be as widespread as today. A bit of mist but generally
0:26:31 > 0:26:36bright and dry. Getting better by lunchtime. Showers becoming more
0:26:36 > 0:26:45frequent in these areas. But they will not be quite as intense as
0:26:45 > 0:26:50yesterday. Any thunder will be the exception and not the rule. We will
0:26:50 > 0:26:59get a bit of sunshine Bull. Temperatures leapt into about 18
0:26:59 > 0:27:03degrees. That will gradually disappear tomorrow. The all
0:27:03 > 0:27:07important bank holiday weekend and the showers will gradually
0:27:07 > 0:27:14disappear. Generally a lot of dry conditions on Saturday, Sunday and
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Monday. On Sunday in particular, quite windy. That will be evident
0:27:18 > 0:27:28on the north coast. Bear that in mind if you are heading north this
0:27:28 > 0:27:34The headlines and some small business owners have said increased
0:27:34 > 0:27:40electricity costs could force some people to shut down. It follows the