16/02/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline with Donna Traynor and Sarah

Travers. The headlines this Thursday evening: they call-centre

company shedding hundreds of jobs won a major government contract

just three months ago. Families say they are disappointed

by a HET report into a bombing. Why the roads Minister does not

want motorists to tax their cars on line.

In sport, the hottest tickets in town for Ulster-Munster go on sale

and we'll hear from two Olympians who've already booked their tickets

for London 2012. And, there's been a real lack of

sunshine this week. Will it turn brighter in time for the weekend?

The call centre and business services operator HCL, which is

shedding 250 jobs here, won a multi-million pound contract from

the Department of Health just three months ago.

The �18 million contract, awarded in November, is to provide back-

office services. Our Business and Economics editor, Jim Fitzpatrick,

is at the companies premises in Belfast.

They are cutting jobs locally but they are getting big business

locally. How come? They are at a huge operation providing back

office services and technology. They turn over about �4 billion a

year. We learned on Monday that the Northern Ireland operations is

cutting Iraq 255 jobs, closing the centre in Armagh and scaling back

in Belfast. They are creating jobs in the south of the border. Now a

subsidiary has won and �80 million contract with the Department of

Health. What is the nature of that contract? They employ eight 70,000

people and they want to streamline back office operations. That is

where HCL Max on comes in. They have been awarded it in November.

Could that work be done by operations here in Northern

Ireland? You would wander because big company here in Belfast and

Armagh is business process outsourcing which sounds like the

kind of thing the divide man - might Department of Health has

contracted. But I understand the support is there to streamline the

services but it is controversial. What is there a view of the

Minister? We now find local jobs are being eliminated after

outsourcing. He says it is regrettable but he points at the

two things are separate. However, it is embarrassing in a week way

HCL, albeit a difference subsidiary, announces job losses here and it

creates jobs in the Republic and we find out they have won this big

contract. The Minister cannot compel them to keep employment here

and he says the two things are not connected but it does not look good.

Three of the families of the victims of the La Mon House Hotel

bombing say they're deeply disappointed at the findings of an

Historical Enquiries Team report into what happened. The HET say

they did not uncover any new evidence to refer the investigation

to the PSNI. 12 people died and more than 20

were seriously injured when the IRA bombed the La Mon House Hotel in

County Down. Feel attached to the explosions ignited. This morning,

survivors of three victims expressed their disappointment at

the HET report. We met with HET on various occasions and each time we

were hoping for some good news. Receiving the final report, we are

disappointed to find there is very little information we did not

already know about before they even started and a lot of questions are

left unanswered. Jim Alastair describes the inquiry as a sloppy.

There is no indication in this report that if these gloves still

exist, whether or not they were ever examined for DNA, if they

existed then it is almost criminal neglect. If they do not exist,

there needs to be a clear explanation as to why they don't

exist. In response to the criticism, the Historical Enquiries Team says

there review provides as full an account as possible as to what

happened and how the investigation was conducted and they stress the

report is not necessarily the end of the process as families will

always be able to seek further clarification of concerns they may

have. That is what the three families are expected to do next

and they have not ruled out calling for a public inquiry into the

bombing. A move to allow Northern Ireland

motorists to tax their vehicles online is not getting the backing

from Stormont that you would expect. The Environment Minister is

concerned that if the system here is merged with the UK headquarters

in Wales there's a threat to hundreds of local jobs. Here's our

Consumer Affairs correspondent Martin Cassidy.

At tax offices and post offices they come each day to fill in forms

and queue for the privilege of paying tax. For motorists, it is a

regular chore - taxing the card - and it can involve a long wait. OK,

can we have a look at this one. Some motorists try to save time by

posting their application to the DVLA at Coleraine where all vehicle

records are compiled on computer. As you can see, the details have

been checked on computer, but while there is that IT computer system in

place, in Northern Ireland it is not, as yet, possible to tax your

part on line. Your insurance certificate, please? It has emerged

that the government is looking at what it would take to integrate the

system with the one operating in Swansea. It would open up the

prospect of online services to motorists here but it is a move

that is being treated with caution. What would not be welcomed is the

consequence of that is a loss of jobs. I made it clear today to

London ministers that, whilst I want more services, I will not

allow the situation to arise where there are job losses as a

consequence of work in Colraine going to Swansea. As many as 130

jobs would be put at risk but many motorists now want to tax their

cars on line. It is not inconvenient but it would make life

easier. We have two or three cars at home so what made -- would make

life fantastically easier. It would be convenient. But no online

service is not the only problem as you should also be able to tax your

car on the phone. Local service is severely restricted because of a

lack of money. Is it time for change? Despite political

opposition, the government is looking to integrate the system

with the one in Swansea. It could have implications for vehicle

Licensing staff here as well. There's been quite a discussion on

our Facebook page about taxing your car online. Most people think it

would be a convenient option but there's also concern about those

jobs in Coleraine. If you'd like to join in, email: We're also on

Twitter and you can always email us with any issue you'd like us to

investigate. Lord Bannside, the former First

Minister, has been moved out of intensive care in hospital where

he's being treated for heart problems. A family friend says he's

making "steady progress." The former DUP leader was admitted to

the Ulster hospital 12 days ago. Still to come: Find out why many of

us own a house we live in but not the ground it stands on.

I am with one of the most famous Sportspeople have added their

backing to a sports campaign to try to prevent people committing

suicide. They are tried to encourage people with trouble to

seek help. Our reporter was at the launch.

Lastly, 313 people in Northern Ireland took they have lost -- own

lives. Consider the families and circle of friends also devastated.

Sports people have come here today to encourage people of all ages to

seek help. What are you hoping to achieve by coming along today?

Suicide is prevalent and it is important that young people are

aware that there is help out there and that any help and support they

need is available. Rugby is a sport that a lot of people look up to an

particularly sports stars like yourself. Yes, I think a lot of

young people look up to the guys who play sports and there is a lot

of pressure on sports people as well as everyone else with the

current climate so the Samaritans are they to brought services which

are really important. The basic idea is that boxers are looked on

as tough guys but we are trying to put across the message that, if we

don't talk about our troubles, it could be serious. The message he

today is to try to help young people to seek help and obviously

to save other families from deep Sinn Fein members on Belfast City

Council are set to back plans to celebrate the Queen's Diamond

Jubilee. Minutes of a committee meeting show that two Sinn Fein

members said "they would be supporting" a programme of events,

due to take place from 2nd to 5th June. The celebrations will include

the planting of commemorative trees, a tea dance and the lighting of a

beacon on Cave Hill. We are involved in a process with

all of the other parties to do our best to mark important

anniversaries that are coming towards this coming decade. The

Queen's jubilee happens to be one of the first of those historic

anniversaries. You can read more Arts groups in the Cathedral

Quarter have welcomed the restoration of funding for arts and

cultural events there. The Laganside Events Grant, which

was funded by the Department for Social Development, was due to

close in March. However, following discussions between executive

ministers, �200,000 of further funding is to be made available. An

additional �50,000 will also be Now, have you ever wondered why you

pay ground rent every year? Sometimes the amount seem so small

it may not seem worthwhile. So, where do ground rents come from

and what do they mean? Our reporter Julie McCullough has been trying to

get to the bottom of it. In Northern Ireland, nearly all

urban land is lease hold, meaning that even though you own your home,

you have to pay rent for the ground it stands on. It is different from

being a freeholder because they own their land for ever. Ground rent is

a feudal device going back to Norman times but in Ireland it has

been around since the plantation of the 17th century when landlords

were given land in the nine countries of Ulster, for example.

It is a rent paid by a leaseholder to a free holder. The freeholder

would own, perhaps, hundreds of thousands of acres covering towns

like Belfast. This was once owned by the L of Donegal. Over the years

ownership has changed hands many times and people have even bought

them as investments. David Thompson at this survey has company collects

40,000 of them every year. collect them for a range of people.

Sometimes it is the original builders who built the houses and

in other cases it is the successes or the next of kin. In other cases,

it is people who have acquired ground rents. Sometimes it is

charities way ground rents have been left to a charity.

Practically everyone who owns a bill for -- building in Greater

Belfast should be paying ground rent and if you are not, it may be

the landlord has not pursued it because some ground rents can be

for as little as �2 the year. In the city centre here they can run

into the thousands. By law, you have to pay the ground rent. If you

do not, it was caused problems when it comes to selling your house. But

there is no problem buying a property that is lease hold because

most of these leases last for around 1000 years. There is no

question at all about marketability. The lenders will lend on leasehold

title and, really, for all intents and purposes, people should not be

concerned as to whether the title is leasehold or freehold. Really

ought ground rent stay the same for the duration of the least. A �15

feet this year was a 15 Prime feet 100 years ago but then it was worth

a lot more money. A lot has now been passed preventing any new

ground rents being created unless If you are a fan of Daniel

O'Donnell, stay with us. Hundreds of Ulster rugby fans

descended on Ravenhill today. But it was not for a match, or at least,

to watch a match. Lots of people stop me today to ask

what was happening, because there were so many people there you would

have thought there was a match. They were queueing for tickets for

the big quarter-final against Munster. The game will be played on

April 5th. Many supporters will be disappointed, as more than half of

Ulster's allocation of 6,400 seats has already been sold. Hundreds of

people turned up today, some experience problems online.

I have been here from 10:30am. We were right back over their! There

is 26,000, I think it holds. They could sell that number to us if

they -- if they would letters. gymnast to divide expert opinion

that he would never walk again and then qualified for the Olympic

Games. Kieran Behan is attending an Irish training camp in Lisburn.

They have been like silage us men's 4 Kieran Behan since he qualified

for the Olympics. He changed his mobile phone number to cope with

the new publicity. In a sport which has struggled with the swings and

roundabouts of cash restraints, getting a grant of �16,500 from the

Olympic Council of Ireland has made a big difference. We were doing

fund-raising every day at my gymnastics Club, doing cake sales,

car washes and everything. If it was not for that, I would not be

able to train as hard as I can now. For me, that is the biggest change.

When you watch Kieran train, you have to remind yourself, this is

the guy who suffered a non cancerous tumour on his leg which

left him in a wheelchair for several months. As a teenager, he

suffered head injuries during a training accident and was told he

might never walk again. Today, it is clear, his colleagues and

friends are keen to follow in his footsteps. It has inspired them.

With competitions coming up, it has given us something to aim for,

knowing that he has done its. He worked hard and got their. Before

the London Olympics get here, Kieran Behan is preparing for the

European Championships in France next May. It is a far cry from

selling cakes and washing cars. An amazing story. Wendy Houvenaghel

from Upperlands will compete in her second Olympic Games this summer.

She is one of our favourites for a medal. Tonight she takes part in

track cycling's World Cup. Wendy is already a world champion, but she

is determined to win Olympic gold. Inside the oppressive -- impressive

for a Olympic Velodrome this week, Great Britain and Northern

Ireland's world-class cyclists got a chance to compete on the track

where they hope to realise their dreams this summer. It is good to

have the opportunity to ride on a track that is going to be used for

the Olympic event. It will give me an opportunity to get used to my

surroundings and a used to the track itself. There is about six

months to go now, so it is a real - - realistic time frame to get

focused on the events that we are targeting in August. When you Vidal

-- Wendy Houvenaghel, beat silver medallist. She missed out on gold

by seconds in the last Olympic Games in Beijing. Since then, she

has focus on team pursuit. Last year, she was part of a successful

Cup -- squat tipped to win gold this time in London. It is

realistic to expect that we will do well in London. We are targeting

the gold medal for sure. I do not pick any of us will be satisfied

unless we get that gold medal. that level of conviction, we hope

to see triumph in scenes like these in July.

Manchester City face portraying the Europa League tonight as they

continue to chase silverware this season. The trophy they won last

season is on display tonight in Cookstown.

This is one of the most famous pieces of silverware in the world,

the FA Cup. It is a special guest here this evening for a gathering

of Manchester City -- Manchester City supporters. How important is

it for Manchester City as a club to come to Cookstown and bring the FA

could hear? It is important because we have an excellent fan-base over

here. We wanted to come over and celebrates and be with them. We

decided to bring over our soccer schools, free schools for children

over here. That is regardless whether you are a City fan or not.

We thought that would be a nice touch, to get up close and personal

with the FA Cup itself. secretary of the supporters' club

here, how big is this for fans? This is phenomenal. Fans in

Northern Ireland are so loyal, we have supported them through thick

and thin. Our club was formed in 1997. The next year, Manchester

City was relegated to the Third Division. The fans are so loyal.

This is reward for their support. Such a long way from Manchester

City for the FA Cup. Can they top the league? Yes, I've been they can.

It is a three-horse race. Spurs are playing well, as I United. We have

got players coming into form at the right time. It is never an easy

game in the Premiership, but we have good team spirit. And you for

joining us. Supporters here will have a chance to get their

photograph taken with the FA Cup. Most supporters here hope that the

FA Cup will be replaced by the Premier League trophy in 12 months'

time. The women's football team of

Northern Ireland came from behind twice against Belgium for a 2-2

draw. Belgium led before the break, but substitute Catherine O'Hagan

levelled early in the second half. The hosts retook the lead, but

Julie Nelson equalised with biscuit. They remain -- Northern Ireland

remain third in the table. Daniel O'Donnell was one of

barnacle's greatest ambassadors. So much so, the county is getting a

museum dedicated to him in Dungloe. The visitor centre is expected to

be a big tourist attraction. We run to have a quick look.

Memphis is the home of Elvis Presley's beloved Graceland mansion.

Tennessee has a theme park for Dolly Parton. Now innovation work

is under way in Dungloe, head of the opening of a Daniel O'Donnell

museum. Daniel gave me all his stuff a few years ago and asked me

to save it. He said that perhaps some day we would do a visitor

centre where fans could come and have a look around.

The museum would be a world first for Dungloe, but not entirely

unexpected. He revealed -- Daniel O'Donnell release his first single

years ago. He has a nice personal record, which we only discovered in

the last few weeks. Daniel O'Donnell is the only artist in the

history of the British album charts to have consecutively been in the

charts for over 20 years. definitely knows what he wants and

what he is about. You cannot take away from all that he has done over

the years. Many hearts were broken when Daniel O'Donnell tied the knot

in 2002, something the museum will not be glossing over. Despite being

the subject of much parody, friends of the singer say he is able to

give as good as he gets. When you are at a concert, relaxing, do you

sit there in your underpants, scratching and trumping? Well, if

there is something needing scratched, I do scratch it.

building for decades was home to a number of banks, and from May,

business people and locals in Dungloe are hoping they will be

laughing all the weightier. It will be a grey end to the week,

but it may brighten up in time for the weekend. This is the picture

from today. It will be a similar picture this evening and overnight.

No frost to worry about, with temperatures at six or seven

Celsius. On Friday, it will be a dry start, especially in the East.

Eventually, like today, it will become grey and damp. The rain

spreading from the South West. In the afternoon, most places will

have damp weather. There is a drier picture in County Down and Armagh.

Temperatures tomorrow will reach ten Celsius, still mild for this

time of year. It will feel colder because of the winds. As we go into

the evening, it will turn drier for a while. We'll have this next

weather front pushing him on Saturday morning, bringing wet

weather, and behind that we will see the change. The rain will push

southwards, dragging him colder air and windier conditions. For

Saturday, it will be a windy day, largely dry and bright, but much

colder. Get your gloves and scarves out! With strong winds, it will

feel like one or two degrees Celsius. On Sunday, it is drier and

brighter, but staying cold and crisp. There is rain on Monday