:00:12. > :00:14.A proposed all-Ireland forum on dealing with the effects
:00:15. > :00:17.of the UK leaving the European Union didn't make the talks table
:00:18. > :00:18.at today's North South Ministerial Council.
:00:19. > :00:20.The idea was floated over the weekend, but disappeared
:00:21. > :00:23.when the First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster said
:00:24. > :00:29.Our political correspondent Gareth Gordon reports from Dublin.
:00:30. > :00:33.The first North-South meeting after Brexit,
:00:34. > :00:41.I think the important thing is that the Taoiseach has agreed
:00:42. > :00:45.to establish a forum to deal with the massive challenges that
:00:46. > :00:49.face all of us on this island and I think that's a good thing.
:00:50. > :00:54.The Taoiseach may have agreed it, but he neglected to mention it
:00:55. > :01:01.to the First Minister and the DUP did not want another North-South
:01:02. > :01:04.body so when the ministers re-emerged the forum did not feature
:01:05. > :01:11.It wasn't discussed with me at any stage over the weekend or indeed
:01:12. > :01:15.before and it wasn't discussed today, but what was discussed
:01:16. > :01:19.was the fact that we do intend to continue to use all of those
:01:20. > :01:21.different mechanisms which Enda has talked about,
:01:22. > :01:30.the British-Irish Council, the North-South Ministerial Council
:01:31. > :01:32.and and all of our very continuing talks between
:01:33. > :01:34.the different ministers, theat take place on an ongoing
:01:35. > :01:41.That wasn't what her partner in government wanted to hear.
:01:42. > :01:43.Well, I still think that the forum suggestion is a good suggestion.
:01:44. > :01:46.I don't believe that there should be a veto.
:01:47. > :01:49.I do believe that there are many people throughout
:01:50. > :01:52.the island of Ireland, many stakeholders, business groups,
:01:53. > :01:55.many farming associations, the CBI and many others in the North
:01:56. > :01:57.who would gladly accept the opportunity to participate in
:01:58. > :02:00.a conversation which is about facing up to the huge challenges which this
:02:01. > :02:02.decision that has been made poses for all of us
:02:03. > :02:20.All rather embarrassing for the Irish Government.
:02:21. > :02:22.That invitation is open to everybody, but obviously
:02:23. > :02:24.it couldn't function effectively unless you had
:02:25. > :02:30.So wherever we go from here, it won't be via an All-Ireland Forum.
:02:31. > :02:32.The Irish Government's handling of this forum idea has been
:02:33. > :02:37.It is certainly not a good beginning to a period where everybody
:02:38. > :02:48.The Northern Ireland Executive is sticking to its key economic
:02:49. > :02:50.policy to cut the tax companies pay on their profits.
:02:51. > :02:53.The First Minister says there's nothing to fear from the UK
:02:54. > :02:56.government planning another big reduction in its
:02:57. > :03:01.Earlier our business correspondent Julian O'Neill told me what that
:03:02. > :03:18.The upside of this would be it would cost Stormont less.
:03:19. > :03:21.The narrower the gap between the UK rate and the Northern Ireland rate,
:03:22. > :03:24.the less the hit the grand takes, those are the rules at the moment.
:03:25. > :03:27.But the downside would be it would lessen Northern Ireland's
:03:28. > :03:32.attractiveness compared to other parts of the UK.
:03:33. > :03:37.What would it mean for the jobs which the Executive hopes
:03:38. > :03:39.to create for us benefiting from the lower corporation tax?
:03:40. > :03:42.It would almost certainly mean a revision of the jobs benefits
:03:43. > :03:50.The Executive has fought a long and hard battle to get to this point
:03:51. > :03:53.and all through this time the ground has shifted beneath its feet.
:03:54. > :03:55.When it started in this journey, the corporation tax rate
:03:56. > :04:02.in the UK was 28% but cut after cut has reduced it,
:04:03. > :04:05.has reduce the selling point that 12.5% and the jobs dividend has been
:04:06. > :04:12.A man who stabbed his friend about 200 times has been sentenced
:04:13. > :04:17.Wesley Harry Vance who was employed as a care worker admitted killing
:04:18. > :04:20.23-year-old Kyle Neil from Belfast at a house in Comber last year.
:04:21. > :04:31.This is Kyle Neil, a father of one from Belfast to have
:04:32. > :04:34.This is Kyle Neil, a father of one from Belfast who had
:04:35. > :04:42.He was stabbed 200 times including 50 times to the head and face.
:04:43. > :04:44.Following a house party in Comber in April last year.
:04:45. > :04:47.The police have called it a brutal act of violence.
:04:48. > :04:59.20-year-old Wesley Harry Barnes, here previously completed guilty
:05:00. > :05:02.to murder at the Churchgate Studios address he was living at the time.
:05:03. > :05:07.He will spend a minimum of 12 years in prison.
:05:08. > :05:09.The court heard that both men were drunk when a heated
:05:10. > :05:26.argument happened after the other guests have left the party.
:05:27. > :05:28.His girlfriend Stephanie Todd from Russell court in Belfast
:05:29. > :05:34.admitted obstructing police of the murder.
:05:35. > :05:45.The judge said he took into consideration Vans's guilty plea and
:05:46. > :05:49.the attack wasn't premeditated. Kyle Neil's mother said her family were
:05:50. > :05:53.experiencing an incredibly difficult time. She said her son was a loyal
:05:54. > :05:58.friend, but above all, an amazing dad crisis to Sophie. She has been
:05:59. > :06:01.robbed of his love and he will never see the milestones throughout her
:06:02. > :06:05.life. She says the family are disappointed with the sentence and
:06:06. > :06:10.are exploring the option of an appeal. After the sentence was
:06:11. > :06:11.passed, there were heckles from the public galleries Vans was led away
:06:12. > :06:29.in handcuffs. Police is a inn Cambodia say a man
:06:30. > :06:32.from Northern Ireland has been found in a guesthouse dead. It is
:06:33. > :06:37.understood a second man from Northern Ireland was taken to
:06:38. > :06:41.hospital at the same time. He discharged himself and went missing,
:06:42. > :06:46.but was located after a social media appeal from friends and family.
:06:47. > :06:49.The Ambulance Service says it will be months before it can provide
:06:50. > :06:53.It had 24 fewer members of staff than required on Saturday.
:06:54. > :06:55.Ambulances from the voluntary sector had to be drafted
:06:56. > :07:06.It is a vital part of the Health Service. Carrying patients to care.
:07:07. > :07:09.But staffing problems meant that on Saturday night, 12 ambulances which
:07:10. > :07:14.should have been on the road, couldn't operate. It meant less
:07:15. > :07:17.serious call-outs had to wait. I don't want to scaremonger or create
:07:18. > :07:23.a situation that isn't there, but there is a concern that had over the
:07:24. > :07:27.weekend there was a serious crisis the ambulance service would have
:07:28. > :07:32.been under severe pressure. The reasons for the problems are
:07:33. > :07:38.multiple. The service needs to recruit 60 emergency techniciansment
:07:39. > :07:44.there are 80 staff off sick, that's 10% of the workforce. Some are on
:07:45. > :07:46.annual leave and the problems were exacerbated with some staff
:07:47. > :07:51.cancelling overtime they agreed to cover. The problems aren't new.
:07:52. > :07:56.Weekend staffing has been an issue for two years. Unions say staff
:07:57. > :07:59.welfare needs to be taken seriously. Their working day is very difficult.
:08:00. > :08:02.They are not getting their breaks, they are working past their hours,
:08:03. > :08:06.they are relying on overtime to run the service and I think staff are
:08:07. > :08:10.tired. I think there are staff issues within the Ambulance Service
:08:11. > :08:13.which the Ambulance Service and the board are working to rectify. They
:08:14. > :08:17.are recruiting for the Ambulance Service and we are looking at
:08:18. > :08:20.training. We can certainly improve things, but over the weekend the
:08:21. > :08:24.Ambulance Service took the right approach. The current recruitment
:08:25. > :08:29.drive may help, but training will take time. For now, the service will
:08:30. > :08:35.continue to rely on the support of crews from St John's ambulance and
:08:36. > :08:38.the British Red Cross. The Ambulance Service says despite the on going
:08:39. > :08:41.problems with staffing that the average response times here are
:08:42. > :08:46.still better than those in Great Britain. And it says that anyone
:08:47. > :08:49.with a life threatening condition should have no concerns that the
:08:50. > :08:56.level of cover will affect their care.
:08:57. > :08:59.A new specialist cardiac facility for children on both sides
:09:00. > :09:03.of the border has been officially opened in Dublin.
:09:04. > :09:06.The plan is to have all child heart surgery at the unit in Our Lady's
:09:07. > :09:11.?42 million in joint funding has been committed to the service.
:09:12. > :09:17.In Belfast ?1 million is to be spent enhancing facilities
:09:18. > :09:22.at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children where
:09:23. > :09:26.children will receive pre and post-operative care.
:09:27. > :09:28.The animal welfare charity, the USPCA, has sacked
:09:29. > :09:30.its Chief Executive on the grounds of gross misconduct.
:09:31. > :09:32.It says Stephen Philpott's dismissal relates to his management
:09:33. > :09:38.A car park business near Belfast International Airport
:09:39. > :09:42.Karl Airport Parking has been in a long-running dispute
:09:43. > :09:46.It says that remaining open risked further legal action and fines.
:09:47. > :09:59.Customers who have had their parking cancelled will get a refund.
:10:00. > :10:02.Talks are trying to address safety concerns over an 11th night
:10:03. > :10:05.City Council officials are in discussions with
:10:06. > :10:07.community representatives and the bonfire builders.
:10:08. > :10:10.This was the scene last year when the bonfire
:10:11. > :10:22.Nearby homes had to have windows boarded up and fire tried train
:10:23. > :10:25.hoses on the properties to prevent them from catching fire.
:10:26. > :10:27.At one point the huge bonfire fell over narrowly
:10:28. > :10:38.Since then, this part of the Cumber Greenway
:10:39. > :10:41.between the upper Falls Road and rivers cross at the new has seen
:10:42. > :10:43.community development including children's play park.
:10:44. > :10:51.While the bonfire is moved away from the homes of last year's site,
:10:52. > :10:56.it is now close the new park and the council said
:10:57. > :11:00.they are preparing to remove the play apparatus.
:11:01. > :11:08.They're still concerned about how high this will be eventually
:11:09. > :11:13.We are really concerned because after last year
:11:14. > :11:16.there would not be a bonfire again on that side, that's not the case.
:11:17. > :11:23.This lot are property including old people and flats and they have
:11:24. > :11:39.We want to work with you, and we want to consult with you, if there
:11:40. > :11:42.is going to be a danger to life and property you've got to say it will
:11:43. > :11:46.be scaled down, otherwise the council will have to take action.
:11:47. > :11:49.Talks are continuing to try to reach a satisfactory outcome to this
:11:50. > :12:03.The rain has cleared off just in time for Tuesday, but unfortunately
:12:04. > :12:07.the dry weather is not set to last too long. Tonight, it is dry. A
:12:08. > :12:10.little bit on the cool side where we have clearer skies. Temperatures
:12:11. > :12:15.will dip into the singing figures, but still not a bad night. Tomorrow
:12:16. > :12:18.will be a much better day. It will be largely dry. A lot of cloud
:12:19. > :12:22.around, but it will break. There will be sunshine, but at times, the
:12:23. > :12:26.cloud will be thick enough to give off the odd isolated shower, but the
:12:27. > :12:30.emphasis tomorrow is on dry weather across Ireland and for Wales and
:12:31. > :12:34.much of England too, as we make our way through the day, the scattered
:12:35. > :12:37.showers will begin to drive into Scotland and down to the north-east
:12:38. > :12:41.of England as well, elsewhere, not a bad picture. Temperatures in the
:12:42. > :12:44.high teens, maybe reaching the low 20s towards the South East of
:12:45. > :12:50.Britain. For us, we are looking at best, 16, maybe 17 Celsius where we
:12:51. > :12:53.get the best of any sunnier gaps. Always cooler and fresher towards
:12:54. > :12:59.the north coast because of the winds. Here about 13 or 14 Celsius.
:13:00. > :13:04.Don't put the umbrella away yet however because come Wednesday, more
:13:05. > :13:07.rain will come our way. It will abgrey day unfortunately. 15 or 16
:13:08. > :13:12.Celsius, the highs, but look at the winds. They begin to come in from
:13:13. > :13:14.the south, driving in milder air. So for Thursday and Friday,
:13:15. > :13:18.temperatures will be up. We are looking at 18 or 19 Celsius, maybe
:13:19. > :13:21.the odd 20 Celsius by Friday as well. That said, there will be
:13:22. > :13:22.further spells of rain, but at least, the rain will be worlder than
:13:23. > :13:25.it was today!