14/09/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. The headlines this Friday evening: 24 hours on - the

future for FG Wilson, its workers and the Northern Ireland economy.

What's driving so many of our local jobs to China? Is it purely a case

of cheap labour? Avoiding student fees - the Scots

close down a passport loophole. And how did our reporter fare in

his final e-car experiment? I'm afraid, for now, we are

stranded. Can Ulster maintain their winning start to the new rugby

season at Munster's expense? We're live at Ravenhill.

The blustery winds are easing but will the sun make an appearance? I

have the weekend weather. Invest Northern Ireland says it

didn't know until two days ago the extent of FG Wilson's job cuts.

Even then, it says it couldn't have done much to persuade Caterpillar,

the firm's American-based owners, to rethink its plans. Last night we

heard warnings that the job losses may be even deeper than feared and

now there are questions about how large corporations can be managed

as part of our overall economic strategy.

The full extent of the job losses at FG Wilson was only being

realised today. One in three workers will lose their jobs by the

end of the year. On top of the 760 redundancies announced yesterday,

another 400 could go when production moves to China. It is

not the first time production has been moved elsewhere in search of

higher profits. This company, has gone. Seagate in Limavady went to

Malaysia. This company went to Texas. These are powerful,

unsentimental global corporations. They answer to their shareholders,

have not local politicians. They do not respect political boundaries

and go whether costs are lowest. When their minds are made up, there

is little can be done to change them. Invest NI was only told of

the extent of the cuts two days ago. We knew this chain of products were

going but we did not know the extent of that. This is a firm that

his stock market listed and has a responsibility to its shareholders.

I understand that, that is the environment we live in. The owner

of FG Wilson got �25 million in grants since the year 2000 so it is

have the right strategy to offer cash incentives to come here?

are certainly doing the right thing at in attracting these firms in. It

is of no comfort to those who have lost their jobs this week but the

The Times these companies have been here, they provide skills, training.

They are significant employers. Once a large corporations are

attracted here, they say more has to be done to keep them. We need to

see people from the Northern Ireland subsidiary getting out and

working in the American parent and getting involved in that

organisation. One of the biggest challenges we had in the early days

was getting managers from Belfast into London and New York to fight

the corner for Belfast. Because the managers from other parts of the

world, be it to Paris, London, were already in those areas and were

strong advocates for their regions. After the current wave of

redundancies, FG Wilson also employing around 2000 people here

but with more job losses expected, and given the experience of

multinationals in the past, there Israel concern among the remaining

workers about the company's long- term commitment to Northern Ireland.

Our reporter has spent the day talking to FG Wilson workers. She

joins us from the factory gates in Larne. No mistaking the mood?

Absolutely. There is a mood of mixed emotions here today. There is

anger, sadness and despair. Very personal stories, people not just

worried about their jobs but their mortgages, rent, whether they will

get another job. I spoke to one worker who told me that his wife

had just given birth to a baby and he said last week the house was

full of joy. Last night, there was just sat us. I also spoke to

another worker who said the atmosphere after the news was

delivered yesterday was just awful. He said he is dreading going back

to work on Monday and is in people that he knows are losing their jobs

while he is keeping his. There is a lot of anxiety about whether these

people will find work elsewhere, because they are such highly-

skilled jobs. Unfortunately no one would speak to me on camera but

they told me FG Wilson had told them not to speak to the media but

unfortunately they could not speak to me today and there have got in

touch with FG Wilson today to see if that is the case and they are

yet to confirm or deny that but clearly a long weekend ahead for

many and a long time and a sad time for those workers who know they are

losing their jobs here in Larne. A man who admitted stabbing to

death a former Fermanagh GAA player has been jailed for five years.

Gary Moane who is 36 and from Brookborough had his manslaughter

plea accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He

stabbed Ciaran Woods in a house in Tempo in July 2010.

The former director of the Boston College research project which

interviewed ex paramilitaries has released details about the

interview contents. Ed Moloney is challenging a PSNI legal bid to

obtain the transcript of an interview with Old Bailey bomber

Dolours Price. He says she made no reference to Jean McConville, one

of the Disappeared. In a moment, we will speak to the

chief Executive of Larne Consul. It seemed too good to be true and

now it is. Local students holding an Irish passport can go to

Scottish universities this year without paying tuition fees. The

Scottish government announced today it is closing that loophole.

Some Northern Ireland students have already saved themselves up to

�9000 a year from the loophole that allows those travelling from the

European Union to study in Scotland for free. By applying for an Irish

passport, they could claim to the European citizens but next year it

won't be so easy because they will have to prove they had lived in the

Republic of Ireland for three months before qualifying to apply

for having their fees paid. Already, questions are being asked about

what this means. If they are looking at the you residency, we

have several members who have properties in the south of Ireland

and they would live there in the summer. We would need to look if it

is three consecutive months. Most agreed that something had to change.

While some Scottish universities did pay the fees for those holding

Irish passports, others did not and the fear is these latest guidelines

could cause even further confusion. Already it is not clear what it

will mean in future academic years for Northern Ireland students who

are currently studying for free. think there will be more problems

with this. It is a sticking plaster response. Whatever I might think

about it, your definition of nationality is not decided by the

Scottish government. There are people here that will believe under

the Good Friday Agreement that they can be Irish if they want to and

that would be supported by the courts. The Scottish government has

said it hopes the new legislation will provide clarity for students

but it seems that is a long way off. Still to come on the programme: The

end of the road for our reporter Conor Macauley.

I have an E car and I am at a garage in Letterkenny. I am trying

to use the fast charge. And it doesn't appear to be working.

Back now to the cuts at FG Wilson and on top of the job losses

already announced, hundreds more are likely to go in the coming

months as the firm moves some of its production to China. Our

Economics and Business Editor Jim Fitzpatrick is here. How

fundamental a shift is this? The number is huge but the trend is

worrying. China is the world's second biggest economy. It has

grown rapidly for more than a decade creating millions of jobs

every year. Now around 400 jobs will be moving from FG Wilson

plants here to huge factory at Tainjin, the largest coastal city

in northern China. In one way, it is part of a long-term trend. For

decades manufacturing jobs have moved from west to east as

businesses look for cheaper labour. We benefit because we get cheap

goods. Your TV or mobile phone was most likely made on a production

line like this in China but now there's another big shift in global

economy that has landed at the door of FG Wilson workers. The problem

is that while China is still growing fast, the markets closer to

our local FG Wilson factories have been sluggish since the financial

crash of 2008. The economic growth figures out. The UK economy is

expected to grow by just 1.2% next year. The problems in the euro-zone

mean growth there is forecast to be just 0.6%. China meanwhile, even

though it's slowing down, is expected to grow by a whopping 8%.

On those figures, it is easy to see that FG Wilson's parent company

wants to have its manufacturing bases closer to more promising

markets. Many experts are not surprised. The challenge for us,

they say, is not to hang on to those jobs but to find focus on

industries in which we can truly compete. We cannot ignore China and

the East. We have to think strategically. That looks at a

value added industry, looking at industries that are starting to

perform well, industries such as software engineering. We have seen

large increases in the past few years. That is where we have to

focus as a small country. As their consumers grow richer, they won't

just make things, they will buy more imported products, too. So how

are we doing at selling them to them? The most recent manufacturing

export figures show that out of �16 billion worth of exports from

Northern Ireland, just 3% went to the whole of Asia, including China.

So there is a long, long way to go before we crack that market.

Joining me now from Larne is the council's chief-executive. You have

been critical of the company's lack of communication. What could you

have done, even if they had told you? We think it is important that

we had some advanced notice because it is important that councillors

are informed as to what is happening. We want them to make

informed statements that are constructive and positive and do

not do anything to damage the sustainability of Caterpillar

globally. That is important because there are still jobs here and

Investment to be made here and we want to be seen it to be proactive,

working with Caterpillar to nature jobs are secured for the future and

to encourage them to bring other work to Larne to replace the work

that has gone now. You have had 24 hours to digest this, what will the

impact be on other businesses in Larne? There are quite a few that

are involved in the supply chain, whether it is feared servicing,

those who provide materials and other components for the

manufacturing process and beyond that to how people spend their

money within Larne and the local area as a whole.

Can Ulster make it three wins from three in rugby's Pro 12? Join me at

Ravenhill shortly. It has emerged that a businessman

appointed by ministers to the Maze Development Board is facing legal

action to ban him from acting as a company director. Ken Cleland was

appointed to the board of the Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation

last week by the First and Deputy First Minister's department. The

appointment comes as another government department pursues him

in the High Court. Our Political Correspondent joins me now that the

details. He is a Ken Cleland? He is a local

businessman, he recently got planning permission to build a

hotel in Lisburn and he has been pictured at social functions with

members of the DUP. He was also chairman of a company, a printing

company that employed 80 people and Tallaght went into administration.

That was in 2009. Because he was chairman of the company, it is in

connection with that company that the Department of Enterprise are

seeking to disqualify him from acting as a director in future.

do they want to ban him from being a director? When a company fails, a

company prepares a report that has given to the Department of

Enterprise he then consider the conduct of the directors and has to

decide whether his in the public interest to pursue a case in the

High Court in terms of banning that person from acting as a company

director in future. This is a civil matter, not a criminal matter. The

department is refusing to say on what grounds they are pursuing Ken

Cleland but in the past, you can be pursued on grounds of failing to

keep proper records for example or failing to pass on VAT to the

taxman. 12 young people living in supported

accommodation in Lurgan say they are at risk of becoming homeless.

It follows a Housing Executive decision to move funding from the

project. For more than a decade it has provided semi-independent

living for homeless and vulnerable young people. Last month residents

were told it would close within weeks.

These young people have a lot in common, they all have troubled

backgrounds and they will all tell you they had never felt as happy as

they do right here and now they all face an uncertain and anxious

future. That is because virtually out of the blue, they have been

told within weeks, this supported housing, which has been their home,

or close. The Housing Executive have withdrawn its funding.

gives 12 young people one month's notice that they're going to be

made homeless. Who doesn't speak to them. The Housing Executive says it

is committed to finding all the residents alternative accommodation.

The fear had ever is that that means a hostel or nothing. We are

protected from Alcoholics and drug users and things like that. We are

not around that but if we were in a hostel, our safety would be in

danger because we are so young and we will be around that and it's not

right. Foremost, the path here has not been an easy one. I moved in

here and my confidence was so low that I felt I had nobody to turn to

and they have done so much for me. They have taught me how to clean

and cook and they have bowled by confidence up again. People don't

see us as homeless, they just see ass as young people who don't

behave well but most of us do have problems like mental or health

problems and we do need support. We need to learn how to be independent.

Staff here seem as perplexed. In a statement, the company says it

expressed regret at the loss of a unique services but without funding,

it could not keep it opened. All week we have been following the

adventures of our reporter Conor Macauley as he tried an electric

car on his daily commute to work. On one of the days he took it a lot

further afield, driving it for hundreds of miles across seven

counties. Here is how he got on. It is around 8:30am and we are in a

Newry, the starting point for our odyssey around Northern Ireland in

is the car. We spent most of yesterday working out a route and

what we will try to do is hit those fast chargers to minimise the

charge time as we go along but we still think it could take anything

up to 12 hours to get ourselves around Northern Ireland. The

weather deteriorated as we set off and that meant climate control to

clear the windscreen, and drain on the battery but we made our map

without incident. First we had to clear the cobwebs off the charge.

And then a quick familiarisation with the machine and a 20 minute

charge to push on to Enniskillen. Dual-carriageway driving in economy

mode got us there with a little to spare but now they had a problem.

We have reached Enniskillen and we have 16 miles left on the battery.

This is not a fast charger and we have a long way to go in the next

section. We don't know how long it will take to charge here but we are

allowing two hours so I am off for lunch. Two hours later and we still

didn't have what we needed to reach our next point, County Donegal. So

we waited and Willey did, they bumped into commuter Tom Elliot,

the Ulster Unionist MLA. We asked his opinion. I am somewhat

disappointed that it takes so long to charge and you get so few miles.

That is a huge downfall but I think with the technology there is, there

is bound to be opportunities that they will be able to assist that.

Eventually we couldn't wait any longer, we had to risk the journey

on a three quarter charge. A few towns stood between us and a

destination. We pitched up to this point and there are 13 miles left

on the tank. There is a fast charge here in a live bird. If this is not

working, we are really in trouble. Prophetic words, as it turned out.

Instead of giving as part, a charger in the method gave us an

error message. Oh, that is not good. It took frantic phone calls. I am

trying to use the fast charge. And it does not appear to be working.

And a remote boot from an Engineer to get us going. It took two hours

and was close to 8pm. As the light faded, we abandoned plans to come

home via the north coast and headed for a rapid charger at the

Glenshane Pass for the final leg home. It was 40 miles to the big

city but we made it comfortably enough. 15 hours later and my

journey for BBC Newsline is at an end. The battery is exhausted and

to be honest, so am I. I have to give it another charge and because

there is no Robert charger in Belfast, I am going to have to wait

again. Conor Macauley is safely in the

studio, refreshed. Would you buy one? That is the question people

have been posing to me all week. This story generated a massive

interest. A man just driving past my house this morning stopped and

walked up to ask me what I thought of the car. I think it would be a

good second car for a well-heeled urban family, perfect for the

school run, popping to the shops but for widespread use, it will

have to be half the price because remember, this one is �30,000, and

probably have twice the range but for it will take off but it was a

fun week and it was a nice drive - a great experiment and we had good

fun. Can the Ulster rugby team pick up

where they left off last season against Munster? Austin O'Callaghan

is live in East Belfast for tonight's big game.

Ulster may have won their opening two matches in the Pro 12 but it is

tonight's game which feels like the real season opener. Munster have

not forgotten about that Heineken Cup quarter-final victory for

Ulster in Limerick last April. A result which had a profound effect

on both teams. Ulster's director of rugby, David Humphreys, is with me.

I am wondering would victory tonight confirm once and for all

that the pecking order in Irish rugby has changed? I don't think

we're getting close to that yet. The number of years ago when we

talked about closing the gap between Munster and Leinster,

results over the last year's show we have closed the gap but to be

able to say that the gap is now no longer there, we have to win on a

regular basis. Tonight we hope for another big performance. So on

supporters feel you had such a good when the last time? You cannot base

it on one match. This season, some changes in players and management.

We do believe we have a squad now that is capable of competing with

anybody and hopefully tonight we will see that. I'm sure you

remember Stephen Ferris's first game and here he is tonight,

running out for his one hundredth cap. A magnificent appearance --

achievement for him. He has become a talisman for this team. His big

performances have resulted in big performances and results for us. He

is looking forward to tonight. you win? I hope so cannot hope to

see a big performance. A enjoy the game this evening. The match is

live all over on BBC Two. Royal Mail did a U-turn today and painted

the postbox in Eglinton gold in honour of Paralympic athlete Jason

Smith. Initially Royal Mail said they would only be painting

mailboxes for GB athletes who have scooped gold but at the postbox in

Eglinton, Jason's home village, has been painted to recognise his

double gold winning achievement. Lots of you have been discussing

Eglinton's freshly painted gold postbox today on our Facebook page.

If you would like to join in that debate, the address is on your

screen. You can also follow us on Twitter.

Thankfully nothing to exceptional for September. We quite often see

dusts but it will remain a blustery to date. As we head into the

weekend, thankfully not looking quite as Wendy. Maybe some of rain

tomorrow night but I think for much of the day, we are looking at a lot

of dry weather. Although there will be some cloud, most of us will see

some of brightness. Along with those blustery winds today, there

were a few showers. They have been starting to ease away in the last

few hours. For many of us, this is the brightest part of the day.

Still a moderate breeze blowing through Ravenhill this evening. We

hold on to the dry weather through the course of tonight. Temperatures

holding at nine or ten degrees. Tomorrow, the emphasis is on an

mainly dry theme. There will be a good deal of cloud but it is by no

means a solid bank of cloud. It will lift and then to give some

bright as a time to time. If you're in the West, probably more cloud

edging in at times and eastern areas but higher temperatures than

today, getting up to 16 degrees but it is likely to be parts of Antrim,

Belfast and County Armagh that see the highest temperatures. House of

around 18 degrees, feeling very pleasant with a lighter winds.

Tomorrow evening, a try end to the day but through the night, the

breeze picks up again. It will bring some rain as well but most of

the rain clears fairly quickly on Sunday and the skies will start to

Brighton. Some showers will follow through the day but some good gaps

so plenty of scope to get out and about.

In relation to our earlier story on Ken Cleland who has been appointed

to the Maze Development Board, we should have also pointed out that

we understand he is a vigorously contesting the legal action to ban

him from acting as a company director.