08/05/2014 BBC Newsline

combat for the first time. That's all from the

This is BBC Newsline. The headlines: A fresh war of words breaks out

between Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.

A court in London rules that women from Northern Ireland aren't

entitled to free abortions in England.

400 jobs are on the way for Newtownabbey as an IT company

expands. The Victims Commissioner calls for a

pension for people seriously hurt in the Troubles. This is not about

payment for war, this is about dignity for some. -- payment for

all. We've heard about it for months,

painted everything pink and now it's about to begin. I'm at the Opening

Ceremony for the Big Start of the Girol D'Italia cycle race.

There's no scarcity of rain clouds over the next few days but there

will be some dry gaps, too. I'll have a full forecast later in the

programme. A new row between the first and

deputy first ministers has erupted this evening. Peter Robinson and

Martin McGuinness are at the opening ceremony of the Giro d'Italia at

Belfast City Hall. Mark, what is the latest? I was speaking to Martin

McGuinness earlier on and he was angry on a number of fronts. Still

angry about the handling of Gerry Adams' arrest by the police. He

complains to two reasons really is about that. He complained about

favouritism which he claims has been shown to the DUP as opposed to Sinn

Fein. When I asked her about his work with Mr Robinson, who had

talked about excluding Sinn Fein from government, you launch this

attack on as partner in government. This man has shown no leadership

whatsoever in Belfast. I would challenge anybody in the media to

look for any MLA or any MP who has attributed the violence against the

Alliance Party and against innocent people from Poland and Lithuania and

other parts of eastern Europe. I challenge anybody to show me a

statement from any of them. They have not done it, why have they

not. That is in my opinion the worst kind of of cowardice. But the two

men are supposed to be showing a united front for the Giro d'Italia?

The DUP have described Martin McGuinness' comments as outrageous.

They say the DUP has always condemned hate crime and they said

that Peter Robinson had been consistent for the rule of law. In

the course of the programme, you will see the two men together at the

Giro d'Italia launch. Just give you an idea of the chemistry between

them, Sinn Fein sources are saying there had been some job announcement

that job announcement where Martin McGuinness had been kept in the dark

and that is why he had not been at all these events. I don't know what

the response from the other side will be to that but it shows you how

petty some of these things can get. Within the last few minutes, we have

heard from Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness. A lots of things have

been said over the last week or ten days. Tonight, this is about the

Giro d'Italia. It is -- there is an opportunity for Peter

Giro d'Italia. It is -- there is an view of what happened and the same

opportunity for me. I will not view of what happened and the same

on that tonight, we have had our say. It is a matter of recognising

on that tonight, we have had our that we face serious challenges but

on that tonight, we have had our and responsibility to overcome those

challenges and difficulties in the interests of our people. What is

your response to those comments? We will respond in due course.

Everybody recognises that tonight is a showcase event for the start of

Everybody recognises that tonight is the Giro d'Italia. Of course my

party will resist those kinds of comments but I don't think arguing

-- dragging these controversial issues to an evening like this is

the thing to do. We are agreed on a number of things, on getting

visitors to Northern Ireland, having major events, having investment and

we will continue to major events, having investment and

issues together. We come from a very troubled past in Northern Ireland.

There are clearly divisive issues to be dealt with and we are not running

away from them or burying our heads. A 17-year-old girl and her mother

have lost their court A 17-year-old girl and her mother

allow women from here to access free abortions on the NHS in the rest of

the UK. The teenager - who had to travel to England for a termination

when she was 15 - challenged the law that meant she had to pay for the

procedure. But today a High Court judge in London turned down her

request. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has

welcomed the ruling. Marie-Louise Connolly reports.

It was in a Marie Stopes clinic like this one where the 15-year-old from

Northern Ireland had an abortion. Alongside her mother, they travelled

to Manchester as the procedure is unlawful here unless it's to

preserve the life of the mother. Two years on, and today in London's High

Court the girl and her mother argued that like other women in the UK they

too should be able to access free abortions in hospitals in England.

In a statement to the court, the girl's mother said the stress of not

knowing whether it was going to be possible for her daughter to have

the procedure and raise the funds was harrowing. She said she felt her

daughter had been treated most unfairly because when she required

treatment in another part of the UK, she didn't get it and was offered no

assistance by the health care system. But the judge said this was

not a discrimination issue but a devolved matter which must be

resolved in Northern Ireland. We do not feel defeated but we need --

there feels to be more detail about the engagement with the

discrimination issue which we raised. The Society for the

Protection of the Unborn Child welcomed the decision saying, "This

decision had it gone the other way would have led to more abortions

taking place which would have been a bad thing for women and children. It

would also have had serious implications for the value of our

devolved institutions." But according to others the mood for

change including among politicians is growing. We also know that at the

Assembly, despite what people say, there is support for a change in the

law. We survey them in 2012 and 63% of those who replied said that women

should not have to pay for a private abortion in England. With the

Department of Health reviewing Northerm Ireland's abortion

guidelines and the Justice Department considering consulting on

changing aspects of abortion law, resolving this issue is unlikely to

happen anytime soon. 400 new jobs are coming to

Newtownabbey. The UK firm Capita is creating the posts in computing -

with average salary levels almost twice the Northern Ireland average.

Our business correspondent Julian O'Neill has more details.

Soon, the empty desks here will be filled with workers. This is the

Capita office in Newtownabbey where its computer technology staff

provide business support to a host of firms like Bombardier. Capita

took over this building a year ago when it bought over another

business. This is a significant expansion by a company which is

hoping to increase its workload over the next four years when these

additional posts will be created. They are highly skilled jobs, paying

on average ?35,000 a year. The expansion will bring the payroll to

nearly 1,000 and is based on the company's belief that it will find

more work. We will be targeting new customers across the United Kingdom

and also in the Republic of Ireland. We will use Northern

Ireland as a base to services customers. We support all the IT

systems for several -- from here for all over the UK. The Executive says

this investment is an endorsement of Northen Ireland and it is giving

Capita ?1 million towards the training of new staff. This

announcement shows that we can compete based upon the skill that we

have today and Northern Ireland -- in Northern Ireland, and also the

ones that we are developing. This is a vindication of our skills based.

Other public money, ?4 million, is coming from Invest NI. This project

is getting help from the public purse just in time because new rules

from Europe will shortly change the type of venture eligible for future

state aid. The outgoing Victims Commissioner

has called for a pension for those severely injured in the Troubles.

It's one of several recommendations made by Kathryn Stone to the First

and Deputy First Minister. While it has been welcomed by some victims,

there is controversy over how such a scheme could be implemented, with

Peter Robinson insisting no former paramilitary should benefit. Martina

Purdy has this report. This man was 21 when he was the

victim of a sectarian shooting. He was left permanently disabled and

has spent the fast -- past four years campaigning for pension rights

for victims. I know a lot of innocent people who were walking

down the street or sitting in a restaurant and who were shot in

their own homes. They are the people I meet all the time. They need this.

He says there is a small window or that of opportunity. People are

already dead, they will not see the benefit of it. As the years go on,

we will be burying more people. As somebody said, when you get my

cheque, you consented to the cemetery. The Victims Commissioner

calls for action now for victims. As they get older, their needs

increase. We need to make sure we care for people properly. But what

about concerns that paramilitaries may get a pension due to injuries

sustained by their own bomb. What I have heard from victims, those

themselves who was seriously injured, is let's not allow the

potential for a tiny minority of people to undermine the

opportunities for the majority. This victims campaigner says that the

victim should not be morally blackmailed. We strongly support a

pension for those who were actually harmed in the course of rape --

offensive act being carried out on them. But those individuals who made

the choice to attempt to take the life of another or to harm must not

be divided for in this way. In a statement, the office of the first

and Deputy First Minister said the issue was being considered. But it

is clear that Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson do not see eye to

eye. The Deputy First Minister has supported the idea but Peter

Robinson has objected to the idea that any paramilitary could benefit.

I will not put my hand to any proposal that will reward those who

have been engaged in terrorism. One compromise could be rolling out

compensation for those involved in any illegal -- in any illegal

activity. This is BBC Newsline. Coming up: We

hear from the film-makers who have designs on young local talent.

Four people due to stand trial charged with arranging Provisional

IRA meetings have had the charges dropped after the prosecution

offered "no evidence" against them. A judge entered not guilty verdicts

against Padraic Wilson, Breige Wright, Seamus Finucane and Agnes

McCrory all from West Belfast. Padraic Wilson was the only one of

the four who was present in the public gallery to hear the verdicts.

The charges related to alleged meetings of the provisional IRA in

the late 1990s and 2000. The opening ceremony of the Giro

D'Italia cycle race is about to begin in Belfast. The world's elite

cyclists will then hit the road for three days of team trials and races.

Donna is at the City Hall. It is -- it has actually begun.

5,500 members of the public are gathering here to be part of this

occasion as representatives from each of the 22 teams are introduced

on stage. This is the formal bit of what they call the Big Start. And

this will be the 11th time the race has started outside of Italy. This

year's route that begins in Belfast and ends in Dublin beat off a bid

from Venice in no small part because of the ?5.5 million investment from

councils, tourism bodies and sponsorship north and south. Pink,

pink and more pink - as Mark Simpson reports, it's the Giro colour that's

got so many of us in a spin. Just when you thought you had seen

it all, a pink pylon. Near Whitehead in East Antrim. And while we were

filming, who should turn up but one of the Giro d'Italia teams. Out for

a leisurely 40 mile ride. The professional cyclists seem to be

enjoying Northern Ireland. Two of the teams are staying at the Park

Avenue Hotel in East Belfast so that they can be close to the start of

the race at Titanic. When they are not training, they are eating. One

team did bring their own chefs for the cyclists. He is looking after

nine people. He has fitted well into the kitchen and we will adopt him

and not go back to Italy with them! It is all very relaxed at the

moment, but the action is about to start. Tomorrow is day one of the

big race, its print from Titanic to store Mont through South Belfast and

finishing at City Hall. -- to Stormont. Saturday cover the area

from Belfast to the Causeway Coast and back. Then it is from our more

to Dublin. -- it is from Armagh to Dublin. When the drivers are going

through the -- with the riders are going through this village, it could

become noisy. We decided to welcome the riders by playing our

instruments, the loudest instrument in the world. I hope they don't get

scared and fall off their bicycles. Spectators going to watch the Giro

d'Italia are being advised to cycle, walk, or use public transport. But

if you want to take your bike on the train, space will be very limited.

Our bicycle policy is that after 9:30am and at the weekend, we can

carry up to four bicycles on the train and only fold bicycles will be

able to be carried. And that is not changing for the Giro d'Italia?

Unfortunately not. It reflects the increased numbers we've -- we

expected the carrying. The race starts tomorrow at Titanic

Slipways. This time tomorrow, it will be bikes on the road. They will

be going a lot faster than these. Speeds of over 40 mph. The Guaranty

-- the riders are guaranteed a warm and colourful welcome, no matter

what the weather. And we have been told to stress the

traffic disruption will be significant along the Giro route

over the next three days. All the details of road closures are on the

official traffic website - trafficwatchni.com. Explain how

important this is in the cycling calendar. We start with this one

then have the Tour de France and then we have the Spanish one in

September. This is the second oldest and probably the second biggest. In

the last 30 years the Tour de France have gotten bigger. The GE Road

Italia is still very big and people in Italy will not see anything

against it. -- Giro D'Italia. How tough is the route compared to what

they face in Italy? To be fair, these guys ride a lot. It will be

straight forward for them. That is not a reflection of Northern Ireland

or Ireland. It is the first week of the tour, they have to stay fresh.

This race is won and lost in the high mountains. If you want to know

who will win you have to keep watching all the way to the

Dolomites. The guys have nutritionists, medical back-up teams

and bikes made with computer precision. It was very different in

1914. We have a trial -- travel writer here who retraced the race in

traditional costume, what was it like then? Back then they had

traditional machines with wooden wheels. The races were much longer,

they started at midnight. The Dee fuelled on red wine. You retraced

the route yourself on this contraption here. It is quite old,

how difficult was it for you personally? For me personally, going

uphill without any gears, I am not in the prime of my life, it was very

hard. Going downhill was far worse because the brakes did not work,

terrifying! Thank you. We are covering the biggest act of the race

live tomorrow at half past six on BBC Two. That is for the time trials

in Belfast. There is also a programme on Saturday and Sunday

afternoon. When it moves to Italy keep watching, the highlights are on

BBC sport Northern Ireland. From the wet opening ceremony, back to the

studio. With many graduates leaving university with little prospect of a

job, any industry that is desperate for recruits must seem attractive.

Animated film makers have just been allowed a UK tax break and there's

going to be a lot more money for Northern Ireland companies involved.

The industry is expanding rapidly and educators are racing to keep up

with demand. Our arts correspondent Maggie Taggart has the last of her

special reports on the creative industries. This company makes the

children's TV series. It has just opened a studio in Belfast and

performance -- employees 27 animators. It will need to expand to

60 next year. The media company came to Belfast without the benefit for

the UK tax break for animation. It was not eligible because it mixes an

animated character with real actors. We knew there was a growing

industry. There was this energy coming from Northern Ireland and

there was the talent that had not been discovered. They are

purpose-built in the courses at the University of Ulster. Our applicants

tend to be the student who would have traditionally looked at fine

art but have traditionally looked at fine

graphic designers. They love to have traditionally looked at fine

and the design of characters and backgrounds and getting the

environment right. There has been an increase in the budget to help

companies. It is up 50%. This course is only in its second year but with

the expansion of animation companies it is a race against time to produce

enough trained recruits to satisfy even the local Northern Ireland

industry. The industry could be growing faster. It is hard to find

people who will work in animation. There are jobs aplenty and the

studios will be screaming out for more people. I will be having lunch

with a very special hen. The biggest project here at the moment is

narrated by Stephen Fry. Almost 100 are working on it and the maker

hopes to recruit more for its next secret project. Like the other

companies, some staff have come from abroad and it supports the training

of new animators and intends to promote locals. Now the weather. I

think we will need pink max, umbrellas and waterproofs over the

next few days. The wind should not be a major feature to begin with

during the weekend. We have showers moving in during the weekend. At the

moment the showers are well scattered. After dark heavy showers

moving in. There could be some thunder and lightning tonight. That

will continue right through the night. It will not be particularly

cold but some of the heavy showers will be around tomorrow morning. I

suspect there will be some heavy showers around at seven in the

morning across northern counties. These winds and showers may well

affect Belfast but perhaps not so many further south. As the day goes

on the showers will ease in frequency and intensity. There will

be more in the way of sunshine tomorrow afternoon. The showers will

become less frequent by tomorrow evening which is good news for the

time trials around Belfast. We are keeping the link Giro D'Italia

theme. Onto tomorrow night heavy rain will move in. Some of that

could still be around first thing on Saturday. The weather itself for

Saturday is more shabby but not persistent rain, there will be some

dry and sunny gaps in between. There will be a risk of showers as the

cyclists head up to the North Coast and then come right down again. If

you are planning to stand outside there will be some gaps in between.

On Sunday more of the peas from the north-west. Our late summary is at

10.25. You can also keep in contact with us via Facebook and Twitter.

From BBC Newsline, goodnight.