25/05/2016 BBC Newsline

south and a cooler wind picking up by Bank Holiday Monday. Thank you.

The headlines this Wednesday evening: The new Justice Minister

is independent Unionist Claire Sugden.

as the DUP and Sinn Fein bring in seven new faces.

The Kingsmills inquest hears of how one victim cried out for his mother

A happy-go-lucky lad who was much loved by his brothers and sisters,

as well as his parents. And they took him away from them.

Prince Charles gets to grips with the Irish language in Donegal.

And the rain is back tomorrow, but for how long?

I'll be back with a sneaky look ahead to the weekend.

The Independent unionist MLA Claire Sugden

The other Executive ministers have also been

with some promotions in the ranks of the DUP and Sinn Fein.

There will be seven new faces around the Executive table.

Ms Sugden, the daughter of a former prison officer,

was proposed by Martin McGuinness in the chamber.

The key role of Finance Minister was filled by Mairtin O Muilleoir,

while the new economy department will be headed up by Simon Hamilton,

Peter Weir from the DUP is the new Education Minister,

will head up the new Department for Infrastructure.

The new Minister for Agriculture is the DUP's Michelle McIlveen.

Her colleague Paul Givan will take charge

of the new Department of Communities.

The former Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill

will hold the key position of Health Minister.

And the two junior ministerial posts in the Executive office have been

filled by Sinn Fein's Megan Fearon and the DUP's Alastair Ross.

Our political correspondent Stephen Walker

has been following the day's events at Stormont.

Boughton before 10am, Claire Sugden slipped quietly into Stormont as a

backbench MLA. Tonight, she will have a ministerial car. Mid-morning,

she was unveiled as the new Justice Minister. This is probably the most

difficult decision I have ever had in my left, and I have said that

before but certainly it did cause me a lot of anxiety this past week.

But, as I said, it is an opportunity for me and my constituents and most

importantly an opportunity for Northern Ireland and I look forward

to it. For Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness, today was about

kick-starting the administration. We are a that it is going to be a

government that gets things done. At the government that is going to work

together, I think that you will recognise the change in how we

operate over the next period of time. It will be a good change and

for those in opposition they cannot just criticise, they also have to

come up with alternatives. We will take up this challenge. It is our

job as leaders to govern and we intend to do that. And intend to do

that bearing in mind that we are ministers for everybody within our

society. All eyes were on the Independent MLA today. Inside the

chamber, there were words of congratulations. Although there was

also criticism of her appointment. So we are not in favour of this,

because it is a corruption of the Good Friday Agreement. The person

who said the size of cards is falling and good will come of it

only if the jokers at the top come crashing down to and do not get up

again is our new Justice Minister, who is propping them up again.

Sitting a few feet away from Claire Sugden, the TUC leader also had

strong words for the new minister. Less than two weeks ago, she boasted

in this house that she was an independent. No longer, I am afraid.

Because today she has become the policewoman of mourning. And there

were also concerns from the SDLP are both what they felt. The opportunity

to evolve our politics even further today has been missed. And that is

very clear to our electorate, Mr Speaker, that this is a position for

which no Nationalist need apply. And from the former Justice Minister the

reversal. What we have achieved was based on the proposals would

alliance put forward before we accepted the job in 2010. That work

must continue and from the point of my colleagues, we will judge the new

minister not on your age or her gender, we will judge her on how far

about reform programme continues. Then it was on to other business.

The DUP's Simon Hamilton and was joined by new pieces. -- new faces.

Sinn Fein brought in three and moved one minister from agriculture to

hell. When the Executive made by the first time, there will be fresh

faces around the table. It is a generational change. There will be a

new kind of politics here. We will have a government and opposition.

Stormont is entering a new era. Well, our political editor

Mark Devenport spoke to the new

Justice Minister this afternoon. He asked why she decided

to take the job. It was a really difficult decision

to stop by all means, I had not on offer and how yesterday but that

option was there, potentially, so I was thinking about it long and hard

over the weekend. I consulted with my family and constituents. There

were people who will criticise me for taking it, there are people who

were supportive of me taking it. So it was about what further

opportunities there and I think as Justice Minister there will be

opportunities, not just within my own department at all so with

another department. Being at the Executive table now enabled me to do

things for my constituents are and indeed for Northern Ireland. I think

this is a really progress of choice they have made and the Executive

team that we have seems to be young, vibrant, energised team and I look

forward to the next five years. Previously you have been on the

naughty corner and have spoken out against those in charge, calling

them jokers and seeing the house of cards of all, have you not gone back

on your own ways? Not really. If I have similar opinions, I will let

those ministers know that, probably at the Executive table rather than

any Assembly Ginger DiMaggio. Moving forward -- the Assembly Ginger. I

will be confident wearing my views in what I feel best for the country

moving forward. Any worries that you are an individual independent MLA

without a party to back you up, that he will essentially be outmanoeuvred

by two very dominant parties in the Executive? There always is that risk

but because the two big parties, and to be they have the mandate,

overrule any decisions I made make but I intend to build a relationship

with them so that I know what is coming. There are ways around these

things. It was always in the mind that I would not go to the First

Minister with a wish list because I did not really think it was

appropriate, but over the five years, I can work on issues and I do

not intend on being a sitting duck. I intend on having a voice, an

independent voice at that. There has been criticism of my independence

being, most but I cannot think that is the case. Justice is a job with

security implications, do you think this will change the way you live

your life? I imagine this will be, to an extent, a life changing

decision I have made today but I am prepared for it. I got into politics

not for myself but for other people and moving forward by can make an

impact on politics here then I can remove myself from any concerns in

that area. The new Justice Minister, Claire Sugden.

The new Economy Minister Simon Hamilton joins me now from Stormont.

It was the DUP's first pick of departments,

It was our top priority during the recent election campaign, Arlene

Foster's five point one for Northern Ireland, the number I been creating

more jobs, better jobs, rising incomes for the people of Northern

Ireland. This is a job that I am the league pleased to be able to take on

board because a Northern Ireland that is moving forward and improving

is dependent on prosperity being spread across the country, for

everybody's benefit. So we will endeavour to build any success that

we have had in growing our economy and increasing the size of the

private sector, devolving, as we have had in growing our economy and

increasing the size of the private sector, devolving, as we have,

corporation tax and reducing that to a level which can be given Ginger in

terms of attracting more investment in Northern Ireland but working to

do much with indigenous companies to make the most of the potential they

have. Have you ruled out

an increase in tuition fees? It is a very different department.

It is the old Department of enterprise merged with most of the

Department for implement and learning, giving us a real

opportunity to have those work seamlessly together. Previous

departments, in one department, working seamlessly for the benefit

of the whole of the economy of Northern Ireland. Having a strong,

sustainable Northern Ireland university sector is incredibly

important in and of itself but particularly in the context of

reducing the rate of corporation tax. If we want to make the most of

that, we need to have the skills opposition for inward investors,

companies already in Northern Ireland so will you increase tuition

fees? We have to have a financially sustainable sector and I will be set

down very soon with the vice chancellors of universities and also

the open University and discuss with them, and our colleges, about how we

can have a further education and higher education system that is

educating people in Northern Ireland but also contribute the growth of

our economy. So you're not ruling it out? Let me get into the job and see

the whole range of issues that are performing. It is important issue. I

have listened for the past number of weeks and months by concerns raised

about the sustainability of the sector I want to sit down with vice

chancellors and people and my department and have a conversation

about how we can take forward this sector.

How can you plug the skills gap

while at the same time cutting the number of university

There are huge challenges in the sector, I well aware of them, and I

will sit down with a presented as from that sector and work together

with them to make sure we are creating the right skills for the

economy in Northern Ireland, not just today but moving forward and of

them, and I will sit down with the presenters from that sector and work

together with them to make sure we are creating the right skills for

the economy in Northern Ireland, not just today but moving forward into

the future. But do you concede that the current system is effectively

forcing local students to call to university elsewhere? Universities

have been improving over the last couple of years and tried to have

courses suitable for our economy, and how it is currently shipped,

with a view to the future as well. I want to continue that progress that

has been made to integrate what we are doing in terms of skills with

our economic product and offering a Northern Ireland so that we can

realise that the potential of having emerged economy and sales

department. If so much money is going to health,

where will the cuts be made? Obviously I'm very familiar with the

challenges facing the Department of Health and the ?1 billion pledge

which my party made during the last election. It was roundly supported

by the electorate. It is something that the department needs in order

to not just deliver services in that department but also to help reform

the system, the much-needed reform required in that system, and that

will require difficult decisions on the part of the Executive. These are

challenging times. To ensure that we can invest in health and education

and the economy but do so in a way that is sustainable, measured and

balanced. Simon Horn, Hamilton, thank you very much indeed. -- Simon

Hamilton. is Northern Ireland's

new Health Minister. Waiting lists are high

on the priority list on her in tray. Before we came on air, I asked

the new minister how she intended to tackle them when she doesn't

agree with using the private sector Well, it is my first day in office,

the first couple of hours, but I am absolutely up for showing leadership

and tackling those key issues that need to be tackled. I think the

particular issues around using private health care will be good be

employing more nurses and doctors. Over the last number of weeks, the

male figure to parties have made it clear they work interested in

investing in health that will be about employing new nurses. So let

me get to my desk and take on those issues and I will be willing to

challenge those things. Over the next umbra phase, we will have some

new statistics coming out which will show that has been a improvement.

Will you reverse the ban on gay men donating blood? As I said, first

couple of hours on the jobs are let me talk about all those issues

within the department and with my Executive colleagues and I would be

very happy to come back on and talk to about how I will address those

key issues because there are many things that people would like me to

make big statements on and many issues I would like to turn around

very quickly but let me do my job over the next few weeks, months and

years ahead. First couple of hours in others and my inbox is already

feel! When it comes to principled issues like the ban on gay blood and

things like abortion, the people that voted for you in the election

will expect you to come out quite quickly with some considerably

different approaches to the former DUP Health Minister. Obviously I

have very different approaches for a lot of issues to the DUP. My party

policy is very clear on a number of those key issues so first day in

others, let's tackle all those issues and I'll be making positive

decisions in the way forward right across a whole range of issues so we

are very keen to get to my desk and actually make my department

officials, to engage with stakeholders and take decisions on

the way forward. Let's look forward to the time ahead. Many challenges

and helped the Executive has shown a clear commitment to work across the

sector and with the stakeholders and with the staff and the users and

make sure we make the best job we possibly can of the health care

services that we provide. Mark Devenport joins

us now from Stormont. This is the first time Sinn Fein

haven't been in control Yes and that is an obvious change.

We'll have to see how the DUP handles that portfolio and they will

no doubt be looking at controversial issues such as academic selection.

But perhaps they will not go at it like a bill in a china shop in terms

of any new legislation. We could possibly see a change of policy,

perhaps more tolerant of skills, according for the independent

equivalents to the 11 plus and maybe more tolerant for those exams taking

place during the week, rather than weekends. But we will have to see

how Peter Wear handles that brief. Inevitably. Instead of having to

corral five parties behind a particular policy direction, this is

mainly two parties. Of course there is the independent Claire Sugden,

she says she will not be sitting duck for the DUP and Sinn Fein and

will want to make her voice but mainly it will be two parties

probably having their arguments more in private. No doubt looking a

little bit less than the last Executive, so we will see some

exchanges across the Assembly chamber but less of those tensions

within government that we saw before.

How do you see the opposition working out?

It will be quite a packed place. We have the two official opposition

parties, Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP. They have made it clear

that they will not form a shadow team because they will potentially

pool and different directions, given different issues. They will no doubt

be trying to seek issues on which they can criticise some of the

ministers, scrutinise them on their policies. We have also got Alliance,

which even though they do not qualify for official opposition will

now also be taking their place alongside smaller parties like the

Greens and People Before Profit. So it will be a livelier assemblage

tumour than we have seen previously. Maybe with some of them are

difficulty for some of the smaller parties making their voices heard.

As Jim Allister proved in the last mandate, if you find a decent issue

on which you have got a decent point to make, you will create headlines

around yourself no matter how small you are. So it is down to the

quality of the opposition as much as the quantity.

Our business and economics editor John Campbell is here.

Taking Finance is a significant step for Sinn Fein?

It is. They have never held an economic ministry in this Executive.

Some of the party then they should have before this but now they have

it. I think we really need to see this in the context of their all

Ireland agenda, or they want to show across Ireland that they have

economic confidence. The fact that they will hold the Northern finance

brief will maybe help their broader project in size.

What's will be on Minister O

He has gone to have a mini Spending Review or money will be

redistributed between departments on before Christmas, the Department of

Finance hope to have a budget in place for the next three years, is

right up until the end of the Executive's term. That will come

against a backdrop whether it less money made available to Stormont by

Westminster and although he says he does not want to preside over cuts

he has acknowledged that we are operating in a system of what he

describes as Westminster- imposed austerity.

The party had some specific finance

The dead. I'm only around rates. People who own the biggest, poshest

houses should be more rates. So he will now be potentially in a

position to bring the foreword legislation on that. Also business

rates. Those will be the areas we will immediately see some policy

issues happening. Interesting times ahead, thank you.

The French inquest into the Kingsmills murders has heard that

one of the workmen tried out for his mother as a gunman shot him in the

vessels of the horrific events are called it a day of the only survivor

of the 1976 attack. -- the fresh inquests.

These are the ten men who died at Kingsmills. Today, we learned a

little bit more about exactly how they died, particularly the youngest

victim, Robert Chambers, a team. For the first time, the only survivor

was given the chance to tell a chord all he remembers, a tale of

brutality, fear and death. Robert was his apprentice. Such a happy

chap. Dancing around a field hugging me for teaching him to drive because

I have promised to teach him. Just two hours later, crying for his

mother and getting shot in the face. Horrific. Why would anybody do that?

An 18-year-old, happy-go-lucky lad who was much loved by his brothers

and sisters, as well as his mother and father. And they took him away

from them. Allen was hit 18 times. Early

motionless under his young friend, pretending to be dead. That night,

he realised he had a duty to tell the world what he had seen. At that

time, I was convinced I was going to die. I was convinced I would not get

up in the morning. And the doctors tried to chase the police man away

from the bedside, I would not let them. I made the policemen stay and

take down everything that I said to them. Because as I had died during

the night, nobody would have known anything. -- if I had died during

the night. I suppose, even now, decades later, it brings you some

more solid comfort to think that all those families who suffered so much

must have been just slightly easier because you were able to tell them

what happened. Someone told me that, someone had told me that. They have

been told it is normal, it is called survivors' gilt and I suffered

dreadfully from that. I really really do. Sometimes it gets nearly

unbearable. But I have done something for them, I have really

done something for them now. Alan has carried this burden for four

decades. Today, perhaps for the first time, he has set down at least

a little bit of it. Prince Charles says the relationship

between Britain and Ireland He was speaking in Letterkenny

in County Donegal on the final day

of the royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland

and the Republic. Here's our north west reporter

Keiron Tourish. Prince Charles and his wife,

Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in the county and took in

the splendour of Donegal Castle. The ancient monument provided the

spectacular backdrop for the first engagement of the day a word or

entertained by some Irish dancing before being given a tour of the

castle. From there, it was fun food to the

historic Diamond area of Donegal town. Well-wishers had gathered to

get a glance of the royal couple. Prince Charles, you're very welcome

to Donegal and the children would like to sing a little song for you.

# We are the children # We take pride in the things we

do. # Lovely, very nice, enjoyed it. Lovely to see him. A privilege for

the town. Really nice, we enjoyed it immensely. I said welcome to Ireland

and especially Donegal and he asked if I was from here and I said yes

and he said it was a beautiful town to live in. "You're So lucky." They

called into a local family butchers, where are the owners announced a new

sausage to the range, the Buckingham Bangor. One of us. There is nothing

different about him. He pulled out the hand of friendship to a viewer

in the North West of Ireland on the second occasion within 12 months.

So, a warm welcome for the royal couple in the county. Many people

here believe it will help develop the profile of the area and boost

tourism. At a civic reception in Letterkenny, the Prince takes rest

his gratitude for the welcome he received. -- expressed. Ladies and

gentlemen,... HE SPEAKS IRISH

The relationship between Britain and Ireland is no better than ever. And

the relationship between the communities on this island has

changed fundamentally since the peace agreement of 1998. -- is

nowadays better than ever. The royal couple ended their

official visit to the county in one of its most spectacular settings, a

national park. The Prince was able to hear it first hand about

something very close to his heart. The conservation work going on in

the county. Football fans attending next month's

Euros in France have been advised

by police to be alert - by the threat of a terrorist

attack at the tournament. A group of officers from the PSNI

will be monitoring fans But, as BBC Newsline's

Mark Simpson reports, Ready for the Euros, the Northern

Ireland team of police officers. But what exactly will be the doing in

France? Potentially one example is if we have got a large square full

of Northern Ireland fans, singing Sweet Caroline, we might have to

explain to her French police colleagues that it is normal

exuberant behaviour and is definitely not a precursor to any

type of disorder. Leader not expect any liberalism? There is no history

of it with Northern Ireland fans and I do not expect that to change

during this tournament. What we need to be conscious of it is a

combination of alcohol and son could lead to anti-social behaviour and

that is what we would urge fans to treat alcohol with respect we are

out there and a good time. What about the threat of international

terrorism? People have those concerns, what is your message to

the fans going to France? We have been happy and reassured by what we

have seen by the police and security plans. My message to fans is take

care, sensible precautions, be alert but not alarmed. If you see some

things underwater while you're out there, that makes you feel

uncomfortable or does not look normal, report that two police as

you would if you were here. A free guide to the tournament has been

prepared and the fans will not just be watching the football in France,

they will be playing a bit as well. There are going to be supporters'

games before the match is against Ukraine and Germany and were looking

forward to those as well. Will you win? Absolutely. That all

international team will do well as well. Parts of France will turn

green this summer. More than 40,000 Northern Ireland supporters are

expected, plus around 70,000 supporting the Republic. Like the

are sending a team of officers to the tournament but the hopes that

all the headlines are made on the pitch rather than off.

Let's have a look at the weather. It was looking lovely in Donegal today.

He picked one of the best places to be today because it was a case of

the further west you were, the sunnier and brokerage was. In the

east, Belfast, a lot of cloud today. It was Ulsterman from the North of

England. It did stay dry everywhere but the client will thicken up

everywhere. -- it was streaming in from the North of England. During

the early hours, that figure cloud will bring a few splashes of rain in

from the east. It means it will not be as cold tonight but it will also

be some dampness around tomorrow and some rain on and off throughout the

day. But it is just one day and it will get better as we had towards

the weekend. First thing tomorrow, expect some puddles, expected to use

your windscreen wipers and it is probably worth taking an umbrella

because there will be some rain from time to time. It is always likely to

be more persistent across eastern counties. Belfast, Antrim, County

Down, part drama because it is coming at easterly breeze, and one

to sharper burst of rain over the hills. Although it will be cloudy in

the west, you should still have some dry weather. Give it is

disappointing but it will get warmer again as we had towards the weekend.

We will start to see warmer air nudging up tomorrow night. Many

places turning dry as well and we some cloud breaks it could leave

some mist and fog around for a time on Friday but things are looking

good as we head towards the weekend. Drying up, warming up and some

sunshine around as well. Strong sunshine for the last couple of days

of May, the kind of forecast we all like. Friday morning starts misty

and murky with one or two showers in the afternoon at a fairly dry day to

come. Some sunshine and temperatures back up to around 17 degrees. As we

head towards the weekend, temperatures climbing further. Maybe

even close to 20 degrees by the end of the weekend. And it looks like

things will stay pretty decent as we head into the bank holiday Monday as

well. So if you are off for the weekend of the Bank Holiday, lots of

opportunities to get out and about, enjoy the spring flowers. This came

on today from County Down. Even under cloudy skies, the bluebells

look beautiful. That is all from us.