:00:16. > :00:19.and these are the headlines this Tuesday evening.
:00:20. > :00:21.A new year and an old scandal burns on
:00:22. > :00:28.as the renewable heat row refuses to go away.
:00:29. > :00:31.Irish language activists say a pre-Christmas decision by a DUP
:00:32. > :00:34.A restriction on departing flight seats is to be lifted
:00:35. > :00:39.A new bike registration scheme is introduced
:00:40. > :00:49.as the extent of thefts is revealed.
:00:50. > :00:56.theft is almost like the new car theft. We are finding bicycles are
:00:57. > :00:57.more readily available, more readily accessible.
:00:58. > :01:01.local footballers - as Linfield close in
:01:02. > :01:04.We look ahead to tonight's big games.
:01:05. > :01:07.And not much rain until later in the week but a little for some
:01:08. > :01:14.First, to the growing political fallout from
:01:15. > :01:20.The DUP has once again rejected calls for the First Minister to step
:01:21. > :01:27.The party says Arlene Foster is going nowhere.
:01:28. > :01:29.Sinn Fein have threatened to trigger an early Assembly election
:01:30. > :01:33.unless she steps down to allow an investigation
:01:34. > :01:36.into the costly, controversial scheme.
:01:37. > :01:39.The DUP say they don't fear having to go to the polls.
:01:40. > :01:49.Here's our political correspondent Gareth Gordon.
:01:50. > :01:56.Stormont's Christmas tree stands there and exposed. Soon, it will be
:01:57. > :02:00.taken down. A possible sign of things to come for the building it
:02:01. > :02:04.adorns. The political rift over something seemingly so mundane as a
:02:05. > :02:09.renewable heating scheme has come to this. One of the Executive parties
:02:10. > :02:14.threatening the other that it will bring down the institutions unless
:02:15. > :02:18.the First Minister said the fight. Sinn Fein have been very consistent
:02:19. > :02:21.about what needs to happen. So investigation, stopping the flow of
:02:22. > :02:26.money, Arlene Foster stepping aside. Whenever we tabled a motion, we are
:02:27. > :02:30.clear about what needs to happen next. If the crisis leads to
:02:31. > :02:35.elections, so be it. As of now, Arlene Foster is not for turning.
:02:36. > :02:39.Arlene Foster is a good First Minister. She is an effective First
:02:40. > :02:42.Minister, a firm, good Unionist leader and you can understand why
:02:43. > :02:48.Sinn Fein might want rid of her but she is not going anywhere. In the
:02:49. > :02:51.context of biomass boilers, that is called, what is called meeting fire
:02:52. > :02:54.with fire. A snap election would be a leap into the unknown for all of
:02:55. > :02:59.the parties, made even more predictable because for the first
:03:00. > :03:03.time voters will be electing only five MLAs per constituency, instead
:03:04. > :03:12.of the current sex. For now, other parties can only stand back and
:03:13. > :03:15.wonder. -- the current six. I do not what is going to happen. The ball
:03:16. > :03:19.currently stands with Sinn Fein, in terms that they have the power to
:03:20. > :03:23.bring down and force an election. Mrs Foster has it in her power to
:03:24. > :03:26.stand aside and take the leadership role in starting to restore public
:03:27. > :03:30.confidence in the integrity of Stormont. An election will not solve
:03:31. > :03:34.this crisis, because they one after the election, when we signed back
:03:35. > :03:38.into the Assembly, they RHI scandal will still need to be resolved,
:03:39. > :03:41.there will still need to be a public inquiry and we will still need to
:03:42. > :03:44.find some kind of solution to try to limit the damage that is going to be
:03:45. > :03:48.done. A journalist that has done much to uncover this murky story's
:03:49. > :03:52.secrets believe that talk of an election is a distraction. There is
:03:53. > :03:54.the possibility that Martin McGuinness could resign as deadly
:03:55. > :03:58.First Minister, immediately putting Arlene Foster out of office. They
:03:59. > :04:10.could then insist that the DUP have a week in which to replace her with
:04:11. > :04:13.someone like Simon Hamilton for four weeks. If that did not happen,
:04:14. > :04:15.ultimately the choice would be the DUP's, to go for an election.
:04:16. > :04:16.Stormont is smouldering but not yet up in flames.
:04:17. > :04:18.An announcement made just a few days before Christmas
:04:19. > :04:19.has sparked another political row.
:04:20. > :04:22.The Communities Minister Paul Givan of the DUP decided to withdraw
:04:23. > :04:23.funding for an Irish language bursary scheme.
:04:24. > :04:25.Irish language activists have called it blatant discrimination,
:04:26. > :04:36.as our education correspondent Robbie Meredith reports.
:04:37. > :04:42.The programme known as Liofa, the Irish word for was set up by a
:04:43. > :04:46.former culture minister to encourage people to live in the Irish
:04:47. > :04:51.language. A bursary scheme worth ?50,000 per year in up to 100 people
:04:52. > :04:56.to spend time at language schools every summer. But those skills
:04:57. > :05:00.received an e-mail in Irish from the Department fork in it is at
:05:01. > :05:10.lunchtime on the 23rd of December, translated it said, bluntly...
:05:11. > :05:18.The message, and its timing, caused anger. We are calling on the
:05:19. > :05:21.Minister to explain the motivations behind this decision. We are calling
:05:22. > :05:25.on him to review his decision and ultimately reverse what can only be
:05:26. > :05:28.described as a legend and deliberate attack on the Irish line wouldn't
:05:29. > :05:34.that learners. Do you think this was a political decision as much as a
:05:35. > :05:37.financial one? The decision came at the end of a highly politically
:05:38. > :05:40.charged we can Stormont. We are common, Colin on the Minister to
:05:41. > :05:43.explain if it was political, to fully explain his motivation is
:05:44. > :05:50.making these cuts. There has been strong political reaction.
:05:51. > :05:57.Sinn Fein also want answers from the Executive partners. When you look at
:05:58. > :06:01.the broader political followed, departmental spends and budgets,
:06:02. > :06:05.?50,000 annually for what is such a good cause, what is such a
:06:06. > :06:09.beneficial scheme for young people, I think the minister needs to be
:06:10. > :06:14.very forthright, very open, and come out and tell us what his rationale
:06:15. > :06:18.has been cutting this modest sum of money. The communities minister was
:06:19. > :06:22.not available for interview. The money he has drawn me to be
:06:23. > :06:27.relatively small but it has provoked widespread significant reaction. --
:06:28. > :06:30.the money he has drawn may be relatively Exmoor.
:06:31. > :06:34.Our Political Correspondent Enda McClafferty is with me.
:06:35. > :06:40.Let's return to the political fallout over the heating scandal.
:06:41. > :06:44.You have learned of an opportunity to close up before the costs
:06:45. > :06:48.spiralled? We know the critical days on the game between the 1st of
:06:49. > :06:52.October 2016 and the middle of November that same year, the period
:06:53. > :06:55.whenever we had the spec and applications, when almost 900 people
:06:56. > :07:00.applied to this particular scheme, 50% of the overall number that
:07:01. > :07:04.cashed in. It was during that period that we went past the limit, pushed
:07:05. > :07:10.the cost so far and it has left us with this bill of over ?400 million.
:07:11. > :07:15.We have learned that the Ulsterman Unionist, the Ulster farmers
:07:16. > :07:20.unionists, I should say, warned officials three months prior that
:07:21. > :07:23.the spec was on the cards and was going to be a spec and applications.
:07:24. > :07:27.If it was known within the industry this and, why were stark and accept
:07:28. > :07:31.not taken to ensure that cost controls were a in place to make
:07:32. > :07:35.sure we are not in the mess we're in now? If the then Minister was aware
:07:36. > :07:40.of this morning from the Ulster farmers union, why did he not take
:07:41. > :07:43.steps to ensure we would not be facing this dataset? All of these
:07:44. > :07:46.questions will feature, I am sure, if we did this investigation, which
:07:47. > :07:50.the parties all agree we now need. Over the past few days, we have had
:07:51. > :07:54.DUP and Sinn Fein statements, where do you think this will all go? We
:07:55. > :07:59.know right now, the economy minister is working on a plan to reduce
:08:00. > :08:03.costs. We may well get out of that plan before this big showdown in
:08:04. > :08:06.Stormont around January 16. He is working to try to reduce the costs.
:08:07. > :08:10.We do not know how you will manage it because a lot of people, in good
:08:11. > :08:14.faith, find up to this scheme and are expecting to get their money.
:08:15. > :08:18.His department puts the figure at around 400. The finance minister
:08:19. > :08:22.estimates the figure to be much higher, he is talking about ?600
:08:23. > :08:26.million. It will be interesting to see how Simon Hamilton is going to
:08:27. > :08:29.come up with a strategy to try to reduce that figure. The other key
:08:30. > :08:32.point in all of this is who benefited, and that list of people
:08:33. > :08:36.who benefited, which may indeed become public in the coming days, we
:08:37. > :08:48.know that Monday is the deadline for people to decide whether they want
:08:49. > :08:50.their details put in the public domain, we know anecdotally there is
:08:51. > :08:53.a lot of reluctance amongst people out there because they do not want
:08:54. > :08:56.their name associated with the scheme which has become so toxic. We
:08:57. > :08:57.may get a list of names but it may not be that more and more
:08:58. > :08:58.comprehensive. For now, thank you.
:08:59. > :09:00.There's plenty to come on the programme before seven,
:09:01. > :09:03.including: High hopes for tourism on Rathlin Island as a renovated
:09:04. > :09:08.A former police officer from Carrickfergus is among four
:09:09. > :09:11.Chelsea football fans given a suspended one year jail
:09:12. > :09:18.They had been found guilty by a court in Paris of racially
:09:19. > :09:26.52-year-old Richard Barklie, who was tried in his absence,
:09:27. > :09:28.was among those who were accused of targeting the man
:09:29. > :09:31.at an underground station as football fans made their way
:09:32. > :09:33.to a match between Paris Saint Germain
:09:34. > :09:43.The men were ordered to pay the victim 10,000
:09:44. > :09:58.The BBC has learned how long some people had to wait in emergency
:09:59. > :10:04.departments over Christmas. 400 people from 24 December two second
:10:05. > :10:08.January waited more than 12 hours to be admitted, discharged or transfer.
:10:09. > :10:13.The worst figure was that Antrim Area Hospital, where 100 people
:10:14. > :10:17.waited for 12 hours. 94 patients had to wait the same time at the Ulster
:10:18. > :10:23.Hospital. And at the Royal Victoria in Belfast, 28 people had to wait
:10:24. > :10:27.over 12 hours. Tomorrow, I will be presenting from inside the Royal's
:10:28. > :10:28.emergency department, talking to medical staff about pressures at
:10:29. > :10:32.this time of year. George Best Belfast City Airport
:10:33. > :10:34.is to be allowed to increase the total number of seats it can
:10:35. > :10:37.sell per year on departing flights. Residents groups have fought
:10:38. > :10:40.the move for 12 years, fearing it would led
:10:41. > :10:42.to a busier, noisier airport. Our business correspondent
:10:43. > :10:56.Julian O'Neill reports. Keep Ingram that's about four miles
:10:57. > :11:02.from Belfast City Airport, but under a flight path, she says life is not
:11:03. > :11:05.always as peaceful as it seems. I like to sleep with the window open
:11:06. > :11:10.and in the morning, the first plane goes by and about 640 AM, so you are
:11:11. > :11:15.away from 6:45am, even if you fancy a lie in, you have not got a hope
:11:16. > :11:19.because if you want to be open, use your this roaring noise in your ears
:11:20. > :11:23.and wake up. Residents groups have been worried about the impact of the
:11:24. > :11:27.busier airport and at a public inquiry and 2015, they fought to
:11:28. > :11:30.keep the limit on seats for sale. Adopting the inquiry's
:11:31. > :11:33.recommendations, Minister Chris Hazzard is now set to allow the
:11:34. > :11:40.removal of the seats' cap. It has been set at 2 million departures in
:11:41. > :11:45.per year. The restrictions will be replaced by new noise controls. This
:11:46. > :11:51.will limit levels of noise to a conqueror, or zone, of just over
:11:52. > :11:54.five kilometres. The airport was looking for a much more liberal
:11:55. > :11:58.noise controls than we that would have affected many more people. What
:11:59. > :12:05.the Minister has fed if yes, I will remove the seats cap but in addition
:12:06. > :12:09.to that we are going to admit the other recommendations, meaning
:12:10. > :12:12.tougher noise controls than the airport was seeking. The airport was
:12:13. > :12:17.in breach of the seats cap restriction years ago, when it had
:12:18. > :12:23.RyanAir, but not in more recent times. It has not commented on this
:12:24. > :12:26.latest move, an outcome 12 years and three judicial reviews in the
:12:27. > :12:31.making, but it has seen the cap as technically a hindrance to choosing
:12:32. > :12:36.your business. Removing this cap does give modest room for growth
:12:37. > :12:41.year at the airport, but it will not be hugely transformative. Certainly,
:12:42. > :12:45.there is no long queue of airlines wanting in, or no glut of new routes
:12:46. > :12:49.expected as a result of this decision.
:12:50. > :12:51.An environmental group is to challenge a court decision
:12:52. > :12:55.on the unregulated dredging of sand from Lough Neagh.
:12:56. > :12:58.Friends of the Earth lost the case last year.
:12:59. > :12:59.As our Agriculture and Environment correspondent Conor Macauley
:13:00. > :13:02.reports, experts have claimed that the sand business has very
:13:03. > :13:16.It was back in November that Friends of the Earth lost their court case.
:13:17. > :13:20.A judge ruled that the then Environment Minister had not been
:13:21. > :13:25.turning a blind eye to the unauthorised extraction of sand from
:13:26. > :13:28.the lough. He had used enforcement powers, just not one that would have
:13:29. > :13:34.meant an immediate stop to the dredging, which continues to this
:13:35. > :13:40.day. Environmentalists want the practice stopped, as they say it has
:13:41. > :13:42.a detrimental impact on an important bird sanctuary and international
:13:43. > :13:46.levels of protection. A report on that was drawn up as part of the
:13:47. > :13:49.court battle, and its findings can now be made public for the first
:13:50. > :13:52.time. This is the report commissioned by the Environment
:13:53. > :13:56.Agency and released to us under Freedom of Information. It was drawn
:13:57. > :13:59.on by the judge in his ruling against Friends of the Earth last
:14:00. > :14:06.autumn. It said based on the available evidence, the impact of
:14:07. > :14:09.dredging on the lough is negligible and highly localised. It take place
:14:10. > :14:14.in a certain area and there is plenty of food for the birds in the
:14:15. > :14:18.wider lough. It says dredging is are concentrated in a 50 square
:14:19. > :14:23.kilometre area out of a total area of 383 square kilometres, which the
:14:24. > :14:27.lough covers. Plumes of suspended sandwich are generated by the
:14:28. > :14:32.underwater suction take around minutes to disperse. The environment
:14:33. > :14:35.experts to see more information is needed, in particular they suggest
:14:36. > :14:39.that work is done to establish whether dredging releases nutrients
:14:40. > :14:43.and metal concentrations from the bed of the lough.
:14:44. > :14:46.The police say bike theft has almost become the new car theft.
:14:47. > :14:48.South Belfast in particular is being targeted by criminals
:14:49. > :14:52.with a high number of residents using bikes to commute
:14:53. > :15:08.In broad daylight, a brazen attempt to steal a bicycle in Belfast city
:15:09. > :15:13.centre. Secured to the base of a road side, it is difficult to take.
:15:14. > :15:18.His friend gives it a go. Plainclothes policemen are quick to
:15:19. > :15:23.respond. Bicycle theft is almost like the new car theft, as it were.
:15:24. > :15:26.Bicycles are more radical are readily available, more accessible
:15:27. > :15:31.and people are just not aware of how to secure their bicycle. The PSNI
:15:32. > :15:36.see some of the figures online suggest only one in six bicycles
:15:37. > :15:40.stolen as reporters. Over the past ten years, South Belfast has had the
:15:41. > :15:49.highest level of bike theft in Northern Ireland. It peaked in 2013,
:15:50. > :15:55.2014 at 1000 with 400 stolen in south Belfast alone. This is a half
:15:56. > :16:03.decent blog. It is probably worth about ?30. Hardened steel, Richard
:16:04. > :16:07.is good as well, if you can. These are actually quite handy to carry as
:16:08. > :16:11.well. Ideally, you want around the frame and the real, if you can. So
:16:12. > :16:16.around this part of the frame, not here.
:16:17. > :16:25.And that is you. The PSNI has been big registry scheme, which is free.
:16:26. > :16:28.You get your bicycle Mike Burton individual code, which can traced
:16:29. > :16:33.back to you. Like thieves are not just hitting the streets. Quite a
:16:34. > :16:37.lot of especially high value are taken from residential properties,
:16:38. > :16:41.so our advice would be very much around securing your bike at home,
:16:42. > :16:46.as much as you would when you're out and about. Use the same locks and if
:16:47. > :16:51.need be put anchors on a garage while or whatever area that you
:16:52. > :16:56.secure your bicycle. Some bikes out their cost as much as from news cars
:16:57. > :16:59.-- new cars. Usually theft is the last thing on their mind when they
:17:00. > :17:05.are buying a nice new bicycle. They should have high locks on their
:17:06. > :17:08.bikes, even any shader garage. If somebody was determined, can they
:17:09. > :17:13.not get through any log? They can, but it will take more time and it is
:17:14. > :17:16.a deterrent. If you want to be with you why, let alone at one with that,
:17:17. > :17:18.the message is clear, get it registered and lock it.
:17:19. > :17:21.Still to come on the programme: A big month ahead for Ulster rugby -
:17:22. > :17:23.if they're to have a chance of qualifying in
:17:24. > :17:33.The people of Rathlin Island are hoping that a one million pound
:17:34. > :17:35.investment will encourage more people to visit and
:17:36. > :17:41.The money has been used to renovate the old Manor House guesthouse,
:17:42. > :17:43.significantly increasing the accomodation available.
:17:44. > :17:45.Our north east reporter Sara Girvin has been
:17:46. > :18:00.Just off the County Antrim caused live Rathlin, the only inhabited
:18:01. > :18:04.offshore islands in Northern Ireland. It is home to 100 permanent
:18:05. > :18:09.residents and now the newly refurbished manor house. The
:18:10. > :18:13.18th-century guesthouse has been calls for a number of years before
:18:14. > :18:17.its ?1 million face-lift, paid for from the public purse. It is a lot
:18:18. > :18:21.of money, but islanders say such investment is vital to their future.
:18:22. > :18:25.It is the next stage in our development. It is a focal point for
:18:26. > :18:29.the island, the first thing you see when you get off the ferry. It will
:18:30. > :18:32.attract new business and complement existing businesses on the island.
:18:33. > :18:37.It is an investment in the future. It is a ?1 million a spread over the
:18:38. > :18:43.next 25, 30 years, so when you break it down, it is not a big of money.
:18:44. > :18:47.Rathlin is enjoying a renaissance, with the population almost double
:18:48. > :18:51.what it was 30 years ago. A new harbour for a new ferry is being
:18:52. > :18:56.built, and there are hopes of new social housing in 2017. Business
:18:57. > :19:01.owners in the investment has changed the island's. Tourism is massively
:19:02. > :19:04.important for the island. It is one of the main employers, plus we love
:19:05. > :19:07.to show the island of two other people and let other people enjoy
:19:08. > :19:11.it. Without all those things happening, I do not think we would
:19:12. > :19:15.have a viable island that we have asked the minute. It is buzzing at
:19:16. > :19:21.the minute. Rathlin had an ageing population for many years but
:19:22. > :19:25.recently there has been an influx of. This woman came for one summer
:19:26. > :19:29.nine years ago but stayed to raise her children because of the sense of
:19:30. > :19:33.community. Whenever I had my first child and we came back to island,
:19:34. > :19:37.and the ramp on the boat went down and there was maybe 30 or 40 people
:19:38. > :19:40.standing there with banners and balloons and it was just that sense
:19:41. > :19:44.of belonging, you just would not get that anywhere else. The new
:19:45. > :19:47.operators of the manor house will open their doors in the next few
:19:48. > :19:54.weeks. They hope the island will become a must see tourist
:19:55. > :19:58.destination. Once you come here, you want to just keep coming back and
:19:59. > :20:01.back. It is a place time just to stand still. If you get off the
:20:02. > :20:06.boat, leave your watch on the board because this is it. Rathlin is
:20:07. > :20:08.enjoying good days, but islanders believe that the Manor house and
:20:09. > :20:13.other investment projects like it are vital, not just to guarantee the
:20:14. > :20:20.present, but the island's future. Our local footballers have had
:20:21. > :20:24.a busy festive period - and they are in action
:20:25. > :20:25.again tonight. There's a full fixture of matches
:20:26. > :20:29.in the Irish Premiership. Its may be the first
:20:30. > :20:31.round of games in 2017, but for all the teams it a third
:20:32. > :20:36.match in the space of eight days. Champions Crusaders lead at the top
:20:37. > :20:39.of the table was cut to four points after they lost to nearest
:20:40. > :20:44.challengers Linfied at the weekend. Tonight, Crusaders take on Ards
:20:45. > :20:46.while Linfield host Coleraine - as the title race appears to be
:20:47. > :20:58.turning into a two horse race. Champions Crusaders suffered their
:20:59. > :21:05.first defeat in 29 home league matches on Saturday. As Linfield
:21:06. > :21:13.kicked the title race alive with a 2-1 win. If it had went ten points,
:21:14. > :21:19.it is a lot to drop back. They are brilliant site, a very strong side.
:21:20. > :21:22.Very experienced. So to cut it back to four is brilliant, but a lot of
:21:23. > :21:25.work to do still and we have to follow it up on Tuesday night. We
:21:26. > :21:31.cannot do anything silly like Boxing Day. Crusaders are still a vacation
:21:32. > :21:35.at the top but the league leaders face a side fresh from an important
:21:36. > :21:38.win over Ballymena United. The important thing from our end is to
:21:39. > :21:44.get about business business on Tuesday night and respond. We
:21:45. > :21:48.responded well to it last year, we lost the same fixture last year, and
:21:49. > :21:54.so it is a long way to go. We're looking forward to it. Big
:21:55. > :21:58.challenge. Elsewhere, the third placed team play Carrick Rangers.
:21:59. > :22:04.Hot on their heels is David Jefferies' Ballymena United, who
:22:05. > :22:11.host Glenn at the Showgrounds. In a repeat of their Boxing Day fixture,
:22:12. > :22:18.Al-Nour mannered United play the same opponents. And Portadown are at
:22:19. > :22:21.Shamrock Park. Live commentary on radio Ulster,
:22:22. > :22:23.text commentary on the BBC sport website.
:22:24. > :22:25.January could be a make or break month for Ulster rugby.
:22:26. > :22:28.First this Friday in the Pro 12 they travel to the Wales
:22:29. > :22:32.Ulster, who have slipped to sixth in the table,
:22:33. > :22:35.could do with a win if they're to push for a play off place.
:22:36. > :22:37.That's followed by two European games - away to Exeter
:22:38. > :22:41.Only two wins will do if they are to have any
:22:42. > :22:55.Three big matches which will go a long way in defining Ulster's
:22:56. > :22:57.season, after a inconsistent end to 2016.
:22:58. > :23:03.The festive season started on sale with a win at home against Connacht.
:23:04. > :23:07.But the smiles Abbey Stadium seemed a distant memory on New Year's Eve
:23:08. > :23:13.at the RDS, when Leicester looked a class above an understrength Ulster.
:23:14. > :23:17.They work hard for each other and their physical and the breakdowns
:23:18. > :23:23.and always a contest, the speed of the game is dictated by that. I
:23:24. > :23:27.think... We just were not on you know, we just were not of physical
:23:28. > :23:32.and to put them on the back foot and for long periods of of time and, you
:23:33. > :23:36.know, that is the frustration. With six Nations set to stretch
:23:37. > :23:40.resources across the province 's, Leinster have produced a blueprint
:23:41. > :23:43.for the rest to follow. They are working hard, showing good intent,
:23:44. > :23:49.good desire to produce positive moments when they are out there.
:23:50. > :23:53.That level of competition is really healthy for the group. We need it,
:23:54. > :23:55.you know, if we want to be the team that produced the most players and
:23:56. > :24:01.obviously we need to be able to field a strong teams and keep it
:24:02. > :24:04.going when those guys are gone. For the most part, we're pretty happy.
:24:05. > :24:07.Ulster will have to rally in January, with Freddie's trip to the
:24:08. > :24:13.Scarlets is significant starting point. They have got themselves on a
:24:14. > :24:17.good run from a couple of weeks ago and this period here is probably a
:24:18. > :24:20.little bit of defining of the season and we have got a run of games at
:24:21. > :24:23.home through that period as well so we have got to try to make sure we
:24:24. > :24:27.pick on as many points of the cannily with her mum. That is why
:24:28. > :24:30.today was frustrating. The big names will play their part but it is these
:24:31. > :24:32.squad players that hold the key to success in 2017.
:24:33. > :24:34.The Belfast Giants completed a successful holiday
:24:35. > :24:36.period with a 4-1 win over the Coventry Blaze at
:24:37. > :24:39.the SSE Arena yesterday - their sixth win in seven matches
:24:40. > :24:45.It keeps the pressure on Elite League leaders Cardiff -
:24:46. > :24:55.the gap between the two sides is only four points.
:24:56. > :25:00.It was a lot of hockey. We are going to get back into tour this month
:25:01. > :25:03.into normal schedule, work on conditioning and continue to work on
:25:04. > :25:08.things I thought we had been struggling at. It's geared up for
:25:09. > :25:12.Sheffield. Again, it a lot of mental drain on everyone and we got through
:25:13. > :25:15.it without any major injuries but I am pretty sure the guys need a
:25:16. > :25:19.couple of days of relaxation, a little bit.
:25:20. > :25:26.Angie Phillips is here with the latest weather details.
:25:27. > :25:32.Hello. The weather is still fairly settled at the moment.
:25:33. > :25:35.Unfortunately, we did not have the sparkly winter sunshine we had
:25:36. > :25:38.yesterday. A lot of cloud making its way into last night and on to today.
:25:39. > :25:43.Thin enough to give a few bright spells, particularly in parts of the
:25:44. > :25:45.East, and that gave us some lovely sunrise things with money. A
:25:46. > :25:49.beautiful golden sunrise there, looking out towards the east over
:25:50. > :25:53.Belfast. I have to say, there was more cloud sunshine around so that
:25:54. > :25:56.is are going go into this evening, cloudy skies, still a bit of a
:25:57. > :26:01.breeze around part of the coast but apart from the odd spot of trouble,
:26:02. > :26:04.it is still mainly dry. We do have a week weather front approaching
:26:05. > :26:09.throughout the night. Living on from the north-east. Quite a narrow band
:26:10. > :26:12.of rain pushing into some northern and eastern parts during the latter
:26:13. > :26:15.part of the night. Still dry towards the South West but that blanket of
:26:16. > :26:20.road will give us a frost-free night. Temperatures are settling
:26:21. > :26:26.between four 6 degrees. Into tomorrow, things eventually cheer up
:26:27. > :26:29.a little and it is rather cloudy, still with some patchy rain as well
:26:30. > :26:34.working its way southwards and westwards. Still a bit breezy rent
:26:35. > :26:37.the course but that eases down into the afternoon. As the rain clears
:26:38. > :26:42.the way, it dries up. It also bred up, probably the best sunshine for
:26:43. > :26:50.Derry, Antrim, down and Armagh. May take a bit longer before the cloud
:26:51. > :26:53.starts to break before south east, West -- the south-west. But later
:26:54. > :26:58.went into tomorrow night, and with them when they clear spells, it is
:26:59. > :27:00.turning quite a bit colder. Again, you can see the blue spreading out
:27:01. > :27:09.across the map, don't everything, maybe down to minus two minus three
:27:10. > :27:12.in rural areas. A chilly start, a bright start as well. We will see
:27:13. > :27:17.cloud increasing through the course of the day, but it should stay off
:27:18. > :27:21.the dry. It changes and diverse night. A weather front that is
:27:22. > :27:25.moving, moving in against bringing in which a spell and bruises go. It
:27:26. > :27:27.clears the way Friday, then it is drier, rather cloudy and a bit
:27:28. > :27:29.milder. Good stuff, Angie.
:27:30. > :27:36.You can also keep in contact with us via Facebook and Twitter.