01/09/2016 BBC Newsline

and these are the headlines this Thursday evening:

is to close as the firm says it's to cut up to 250 jobs -

I've spent the day here where people are trying to terms with the news.

Major, major shock. Can't get over it. Disgusted would be an

understatement. A GP's concern about an out of hours

service that has one doctor for a population

of around 300,000 people. Unfortunately I think our service in

the southern area is already broken. We're not providing the service we

want to provide to our patients. The Brexit Secretary

talks of an open border The operation to put out a fire

at a recycling plant goes into a second day - it's believed

to have been accidental. What can Ulster fans expect

from Charles Piutau? The All Black talks to BBC Newsline

ahead of his competitive debut And after a disappointing

start to the autumn, we've got some September sunshine

to look forward to tomorrow and a more optimistic outlook

for the weekend. The American firm Caterpillar plans

to axe up to 250 jobs in Northern Ireland -

a move which would see the closure of its plant

at Monkstown in Newtownabbey. It currently employs around 1,800

at three locations; the others Last night we reported

on growing redundancy fears. The company delivered the news

at meetings with workers We'll hear from the Economy Minister

Simon Hamilton shortly, but first our business and economics

editor John Campbell We knew that bad news was coming to

this business, we don't know where or what the scale would be, but

tonight the mayor of Newtownabbey says the decision to close this

blood is devastating. Many workers were shocked and

angered. Major, major shock. Can't get over

it. Disgusted would be an

understatement. Just as strong as long.

Caterpillar is suffering from a global slump in demand for its

products. It makes heavy construction equipment and power

generators. It counts the mining and oil industries among its main

customers, but a fall in the price of oil and other commodities means

these customers are not buying so much equipment.

That is costing thousands of jobs worldwide. Up to 250 will be lost

locally. This has been a very difficult

decision for us to take. We have worked hard on it and contemplated

for -- it for some time. I would say to the workers across all of our

plants but the decision we are taking today is no way reflective of

the contribution they are given to the business.

The trade union says it is more evidence of the need for a more

specific manufacturing strategy. It's a disgrace we've had the two

major parties blocked a call for a manufacturing strategy by the Ulster

Unionist Party over in -- only a matter of eight weeks ago.

Nearby, local businesses in Monkstown are more concerned about

how this will ripple through the economy.

Probably will have an impact on the business. The money has to come from

somewhere. There have been a series of major

job losses in manufacturing over the last year. Our biggest manufacturing

employer, Bombardier, has shed jobs as a result of long-running issues

with the development of -- however, figures released today suggested UK

manufacturing performed strongly last month, but that will be cold

comfort to the people who lose their jobs here.

What sort of concerns are being expressed about the firm's long-term

sustainable presence in Northern Ireland? This business about five

years ago employed around 3000 people; by the time these cuts are

done, that will be harsh to about 1500 people. The company says they

are committed to Northern Ireland, and they have to make the cuts to

remain globally competitive. But clearly what the workers will be

hoping is that this will be the last round of cuts for now and the

business can stabilise. What about the wider manufacturing sector, how

stable is it? Manufacturing is still a hugely important part of the local

economy. It accounts for about 15% of our economic output, about 85,000

jobs are directly supported by manufacturing. And a piece of work

was done which says that the share of our economy taken up by

manufacturing is likely to grow over the next ten years. But the flip

side is that the number of people employed in manufacturing is still

likely to continue falling. So if manufacturing is going to have a

future in Northern Ireland, it is good to be full of businesses which

are globally competitive and don't need quite so many staff.

According to those who have spoken to, what would improve the business

atmosphere? The big one which the manufacturing

sector constantly harps on about is energy prices. They say that energy

users in Northern Ireland are at a big disadvantage compared to other

parts of Europe. It is possible that as a result, -- as a result of

Brexit we may have more flexibility in what we can do in the energy

market, the other big thing the manufacturing sector would like is a

specific manufacturing strategy. Up until now Stormont has rejected

that, saying they are revising their overall economic strategy, which

will encompass manufacturing and all the other economic sectors.

The Economy Minister Simon Hamilton said the job losses

But he's rejected claims by unions that the Executive is failing

Speaking to our business correspondent Julian O'Neill,

Mr Hamilton said the workers are uppermost in his mind.

My department will be working closely with the firm and those

workers are affected, to try and soft and this bloke and try and find

retailing or other economic opportunities. -- soften the blow.

What do you say to the trade union, who say this is further evidence

that the Executive has given up on local manufacturing?

It is not true. If we were not interested in manufacturing, why

would we be putting over ?200 million over the next -- last five

years into the sector? We have an economic strategy for Northern

Ireland, and I hear calls for a specific manufacturing strategy for

Northern Ireland, but there is nothing that could do for a business

like this who have experienced a significant downturn in their

business as a result of the drop in oil prices. But what we are doing is

we are putting in place the skills, the infrastructure, the support, the

finance, the help, helping businesses to grow, and in the last

number of years we have seen a growth in employment within the

manufacturing sector, and a growth in sales and exports.

The economy minister. There's plenty more

to come on the programme before 7:00, including: Emotional

scenes at an inquest as a couple whose baby was stillborn -

hear the doctor admit she should have kept the mother in hospital

for observation before the birth. A GP has described the out of hours

service in the Southern Dr Frances O'Hagan has told BBC

Newsline that too often only one doctor is available overnight

for a population of around The Trust says the service is under

pressure but that part of the problem is people

abusing the system. Our health correspondent

Marie-Louise Connolly has the story. Junior became ill at the weekend.

She had a temperature and was in pain. She rang the out of hours

service. I had to wait for eight and a half hours. I needed an

antibiotic, but I had to wait because they were so busy. While the

Bank Holiday weekend was busy, there was the added pressure of too few

doctors are available to cover shifts. It has emerged that for six

consecutive nights at the end of August, only one doctor was

available to cover the overnight shift for the entire health trust. I

think our service is already broken. We are not providing the service we

want to provide to our patients due to lack of cover of doctors. To

provide safe overnight cover there should be a total of three doctors,

one based at Craigavon, one in Dungannon and the other in Newry.

But more often there is only one, to cover house calls. I started my

shift at midnight and I had a call to a patient who was very unwell,

who had a mental health problem and was actively suicidal. Within an

hour I have three similar calls. I had to attend casualty in Craigavon,

to assess them to see whether they needed to be admitted under the

mental health order. Each of the cases took me in excess of one hour,

which was three hours into my shift, all the while I was doing this

important work and these people were very ill and needed my attention, I

had a build-up in the background of children with temperatures. My

palliative care patients, men nursing home patients.

The trust admits the service is under pressure. Last year they

received over 94,000 calls from the public, but only 20% of these

contacts were urgent. A number of the contacts we have

would not be for urgent care conditions. It would be for minor

things such as head lice, cold sores, hangovers, and for that

reason is we would ask people to think carefully about the

alternative services available to them.

Another problem is that it is no longer compulsory for doctors to

work out of hours. Many say it is hard enough catering for their

normal router without taking on extra work.

-- rotor. There were emotional scenes

at an inquest into a baby's death when a doctor accepted the mother

should have been kept in hospital Three weeks later in June 2013,

the baby, Cara Rocks, was stillborn at the Causeway

hospital in Coleraine. Barry and Michelle at the court

where the inquest examining the death of their baby daughter. The

court heard evidence from a doctor who had been responsible for some of

Michelle's care. A lawyer representing the couple asked the

medic why she had not been kept in for observation after she presented

to the hospital with the baby in a sideways position in the 38th week

of her pregnancy. The doctor admitted she had advised a junior

colleague not to admit Michelle to the hospital without seeing her for

herself. The doctor said in retrospect she would have kept her

in for observation. When asked whether a Caesarean section would

also have been offered if it had been ripped -- requested, the doctor

replied that would have been arranged. Under questioning from the

coroner, the doctor later told the court that she couldn't recall why

she had made the decision -- the decision not to admit the patient on

the 5th of June. She said, I don't know what information I was given at

that time, and I honestly can't remember the reasoning behind that

decision. The doctor apologised to the couple

for the distress they have experienced. The Northern health

trust has already apologised, admitting a number of mistakes

played a part in Cara's death. The government's chief negotiator

on leaving the European Union believes there will not be a return

of a hard border between David Davis has attended the first

session of a business group set up to advise

the Northern Ireland Office on local concerns about the

forthcoming negotiations. There is some flash photography

in this report from our political Ten weeks after the referendum

result he wanted, the Minister for exiting made his entrance in

Northern Ireland. These two ministers were on opposite sides of

the Brexit debate; now, they must work together to get the best deal

possible for the UK. These business leaders have been

brought together as a new group, designed to ensure that Northern

Ireland's interests are fully represented. But until the

negotiations begin, it is all rather vague. We will get the best possible

deal for Northern Ireland, as part of our negotiations with the EU.

But Mr Davies was asked his views on the border. Here, the two countries,

the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, both want an open

border. And we have had a common travel area throughout the United

Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for many, many decades before we

were a part of the EU. We will retain that, and we managed to do

that without an immigration problem at that time. The two men also have

separate meetings with the opposition parties. I see a direct

role for us in the negotiations. That was clearly understood by both

gentlemen. I made it clear that we will be campaigning very hard to

ensure the vote to remain is respected. It is my resolve and

conviction that we will ensure that the Irish Government and the British

Government get together to make sure we are not dragged out of Europe.

The business advisory group one is every quarter, but when they all

ended we will learn how Brexit will work, is far from clear. -- when day

and indeed us. The Fire Service says a blaze

at a recycling plant in west Belfast yesterday evening

was started accidentally. All roads in the area have been

reopened, although firefighters are still at the scene,

as Catherine Morrison reports. Much of the Wastebeater

recycling facility is still Special equipment to dig over

the household and commercial waste is being brought in to try and fully

extinguish the fire. At its height, more than 75

firefighters battled to prevent the flames spreading

to other premises. Smoke could be seen right

across the city. There is no indication the fire was

deliberately. We had concerns of the fire spreading to neighbouring --

neighbouring buildings, and also to oil tanks and cylinders that were

there. But we work to identify those risks and put in preventative

measures. -- we worked. Wastebeater employs around 50 people

here. Some of they are now very -- some of them are now very concerned

for their jobs. No-one from the company

was available for an interview but a spokesman said business

is continuing as normal at their Lisburn site and they said

they are trying to minimise disruption for local people

and businesses nearby. The company wouldn't do

an interview, and said they're Firms are struggling to make

and receive deliveries. And a fruit and veg wholesaler

beside Wastebeater had to send staff home after a change in the wind

direction meant smoke was blowing The five the smack the Fire Service

says the operation will take at least another 24 hours. -- the Fire

Service. Still ahead on BBC Newsline:

Robbie Keane's final farewell to football fans after 18 years

of international service. A free 24-hour helpline has been set

up to help women in Northern Ireland who have bought abortion pills

over the Internet. The British Pregnancy Advisory

Service says the aftercare advice will provide reassurance

but pro-life campaigners say it's In recent months, the abortion

debate has raged in the courts and on the streets. Now, the British

pregnancy advisory service has launched a helpline for women who

purchased abortion pills online. Pro-life campaigners have dismissed

the move as a publicity stunt. It seems to me that they are directly

challenging our law. They say that in their advertisement. We live in

Northern Ireland, which has a devolved Government; that has been

voted in by the people and made the decision that our law on abortion is

as it is. The BP a is also took out an advert to highlight the helpline.

It says it is precisely because of the restrictive laws that it is

needed. It is the restrictive law on

abortion control in Northern Ireland which forces women to buy pills

online. Until politicians legislate for them to be able to purchase them

legitimately, women will always turn to online sources.

Police are warning people against taking prescription medication

without medical supervision, and which hasn't been prescribed to

them. The police budget could be cut

by more than ?40 million next year. Speaking to the Policing Board,

the Chief Constable said he had been advised of the possible cut

by the Department of Justice. He also said recent allegations

of cheating in exams at the police training college at Garnerville had

led to an independent review. That means for example that the

intake for September, October, November, will not happen, we will

take in an extra intake in December, that allows us a window to consider

those findings and anything that needs fixed, to fix it or review the

decision about further intakes of student officers.

The Republic of Ireland's all time record goal scorer Robbie Keane

signed off his international career in style last night -

Stephen Watson is here, and you were there,

It was quite a night for the 36-year-old striker,

with emotions running high at the Aviva stadium.

Keane, who made his debut as a teenager went go

on to captain his country for a decade received a standing

And Keane said goodbye in the best possible way - with a record

equalling 68th international goal, and helping the Republic beat

One final farewell for the Republic of Ireland's record goal-scorer is.

And he still had a trick or two up his sleeve.

So often the hero, the fans' favourite bowed out in style.

Absolute privilege. Nothing beats putting that great Jersey on.

He got his goal, and he's off. What a record. Fantastic. I will not see

a broken in my lifetime. Even the youngest in this room will not see

it either. Great effort, great career. And tonight was really about

him. Will I miss Ed? Of course I'll miss

it. -- will I miss it. It's a big part of my life.

Now, without him, the Republic must start another World Cup campaign

qualifying -- qualifying campaign next week.

Charles Piutau will make his competitive debut for Ulster

in tomorrow night's Pro12 opener at home to The Dragons.

In a week when it's been confirmed that Ruan Pienaar is to leave

Belfast next season, the 24-year-old All Black says

Personally just trying to be the best I can be. The next step for the

team is getting that silverware, so it's focusing it and trying to get

the results. Do you get -- do you feel under

pressure to deliver silverware? Not really. I know the potential is

there, and we can, but no real pressure, or extra pressure for me.

The game is live tomorrow night on BBC Two.

Finally this evening, for those of you who missed out

on Carl Frampton's historic win over Leo Santa Cruz in New York a few

weeks ago, you can watch the entire fight on BBC One tonight at 10:45.

Let's get a look at the weather forecast, with Cecilia Daly.

I've been inside all day, so I don't know what the weather 's been like!

Was it a good day? It wasn't. A lot of people back to work so probably

-- possibly they don't want it to be nice.

But it's not typical necessarily of the next few days. Next week we

could see a return to something warmer again. Most of today's rain

has moved away. But it's a drying up process tonight. Ord showers

floating through on the breeze. Staying quite mild, with loads of 12

or 13 degrees. Tomorrow is a drier, brighter and warmer day everywhere.

There will be some sunshine around as well, and it should be quite nice

in the morning. One of two showers through the morning, mainly across

parts of the North West. If you are heading out at lunchtime, most

places drier. The average temperature for this time of year is

about 16 or 17; it could get up to 18 or even 19 across parts of

Belfast down. You're probably more likely to catch a shower across

Belfast and the south-east late in the day, but up till then a good

part of the day will be dry. Largely drier as well for the Ulster match

tomorrow, and a bit of sunshine around as well. Let's talk about the

weekend. Yesterday, low pressure threatened some heavy rain for us on

Saturday. It now looks as though the track of that will be to the south

of us. So most of the heavy rain to the south of us. Dry on Sunday, and

until Sunday night this rain -- weather system will bring a bit more

rain. Still more cloud on Saturday, best of the sunshine on Sunday and

temperature is in the high teens. So it is looking much better for the

air this weekend. In many places Saturday will start drier. The cloud

bringing mostly light rain during the afternoon and early evening. A

nice day on Sunday, and pitch is back up to 20 degrees for next week.

There is a security alert at Ardoyne, police are advising

motorists to take alternative routes.

Our late summary is at half past ten.