03/01/2017 BBC Newsline

and these are the headlines this Tuesday evening.

A new year and an old scandal burns on

as the renewable heat row refuses to go away.

Irish language activists say a pre-Christmas decision by a DUP

A restriction on departing flight seats is to be lifted

A new bike registration scheme is introduced

as the extent of thefts is revealed.

theft is almost like the new car theft. We are finding bicycles are

more readily available, more readily accessible.

local footballers - as Linfield close in

We look ahead to tonight's big games.

And not much rain until later in the week but a little for some

First, to the growing political fallout from

The DUP has once again rejected calls for the First Minister to step

The party says Arlene Foster is going nowhere.

Sinn Fein have threatened to trigger an early Assembly election

unless she steps down to allow an investigation

into the costly, controversial scheme.

The DUP say they don't fear having to go to the polls.

Here's our political correspondent Gareth Gordon.

Stormont's Christmas tree stands there and exposed. Soon, it will be

taken down. A possible sign of things to come for the building it

adorns. The political rift over something seemingly so mundane as a

renewable heating scheme has come to this. One of the Executive parties

threatening the other that it will bring down the institutions unless

the First Minister said the fight. Sinn Fein have been very consistent

about what needs to happen. So investigation, stopping the flow of

money, Arlene Foster stepping aside. Whenever we tabled a motion, we are

clear about what needs to happen next. If the crisis leads to

elections, so be it. As of now, Arlene Foster is not for turning.

Arlene Foster is a good First Minister. She is an effective First

Minister, a firm, good Unionist leader and you can understand why

Sinn Fein might want rid of her but she is not going anywhere. In the

context of biomass boilers, that is called, what is called meeting fire

with fire. A snap election would be a leap into the unknown for all of

the parties, made even more predictable because for the first

time voters will be electing only five MLAs per constituency, instead

of the current sex. For now, other parties can only stand back and

wonder. -- the current six. I do not what is going to happen. The ball

currently stands with Sinn Fein, in terms that they have the power to

bring down and force an election. Mrs Foster has it in her power to

stand aside and take the leadership role in starting to restore public

confidence in the integrity of Stormont. An election will not solve

this crisis, because they one after the election, when we signed back

into the Assembly, they RHI scandal will still need to be resolved,

there will still need to be a public inquiry and we will still need to

find some kind of solution to try to limit the damage that is going to be

done. A journalist that has done much to uncover this murky story's

secrets believe that talk of an election is a distraction. There is

the possibility that Martin McGuinness could resign as deadly

First Minister, immediately putting Arlene Foster out of office. They

could then insist that the DUP have a week in which to replace her with

someone like Simon Hamilton for four weeks. If that did not happen,

ultimately the choice would be the DUP's, to go for an election.

Stormont is smouldering but not yet up in flames.

An announcement made just a few days before Christmas

has sparked another political row.

The Communities Minister Paul Givan of the DUP decided to withdraw

funding for an Irish language bursary scheme.

Irish language activists have called it blatant discrimination,

as our education correspondent Robbie Meredith reports.

The programme known as Liofa, the Irish word for was set up by a

former culture minister to encourage people to live in the Irish

language. A bursary scheme worth ?50,000 per year in up to 100 people

to spend time at language schools every summer. But those skills

received an e-mail in Irish from the Department fork in it is at

lunchtime on the 23rd of December, translated it said, bluntly...

The message, and its timing, caused anger. We are calling on the

Minister to explain the motivations behind this decision. We are calling

on him to review his decision and ultimately reverse what can only be

described as a legend and deliberate attack on the Irish line wouldn't

that learners. Do you think this was a political decision as much as a

financial one? The decision came at the end of a highly politically

charged we can Stormont. We are common, Colin on the Minister to

explain if it was political, to fully explain his motivation is

making these cuts. There has been strong political reaction.

Sinn Fein also want answers from the Executive partners. When you look at

the broader political followed, departmental spends and budgets,

?50,000 annually for what is such a good cause, what is such a

beneficial scheme for young people, I think the minister needs to be

very forthright, very open, and come out and tell us what his rationale

has been cutting this modest sum of money. The communities minister was

not available for interview. The money he has drawn me to be

relatively small but it has provoked widespread significant reaction. --

the money he has drawn may be relatively Exmoor.

Our Political Correspondent Enda McClafferty is with me.

Let's return to the political fallout over the heating scandal.

You have learned of an opportunity to close up before the costs

spiralled? We know the critical days on the game between the 1st of

October 2016 and the middle of November that same year, the period

whenever we had the spec and applications, when almost 900 people

applied to this particular scheme, 50% of the overall number that

cashed in. It was during that period that we went past the limit, pushed

the cost so far and it has left us with this bill of over ?400 million.

We have learned that the Ulsterman Unionist, the Ulster farmers

unionists, I should say, warned officials three months prior that

the spec was on the cards and was going to be a spec and applications.

If it was known within the industry this and, why were stark and accept

not taken to ensure that cost controls were a in place to make

sure we are not in the mess we're in now? If the then Minister was aware

of this morning from the Ulster farmers union, why did he not take

steps to ensure we would not be facing this dataset? All of these

questions will feature, I am sure, if we did this investigation, which

the parties all agree we now need. Over the past few days, we have had

DUP and Sinn Fein statements, where do you think this will all go? We

know right now, the economy minister is working on a plan to reduce

costs. We may well get out of that plan before this big showdown in

Stormont around January 16. He is working to try to reduce the costs.

We do not know how you will manage it because a lot of people, in good

faith, find up to this scheme and are expecting to get their money.

His department puts the figure at around 400. The finance minister

estimates the figure to be much higher, he is talking about ?600

million. It will be interesting to see how Simon Hamilton is going to

come up with a strategy to try to reduce that figure. The other key

point in all of this is who benefited, and that list of people

who benefited, which may indeed become public in the coming days, we

know that Monday is the deadline for people to decide whether they want

their details put in the public domain, we know anecdotally there is

a lot of reluctance amongst people out there because they do not want

their name associated with the scheme which has become so toxic. We

may get a list of names but it may not be that more and more

comprehensive. For now, thank you.

There's plenty to come on the programme before seven,

including: High hopes for tourism on Rathlin Island as a renovated

A former police officer from Carrickfergus is among four

Chelsea football fans given a suspended one year jail

They had been found guilty by a court in Paris of racially

52-year-old Richard Barklie, who was tried in his absence,

was among those who were accused of targeting the man

at an underground station as football fans made their way

to a match between Paris Saint Germain

The men were ordered to pay the victim 10,000

The BBC has learned how long some people had to wait in emergency

departments over Christmas. 400 people from 24 December two second

January waited more than 12 hours to be admitted, discharged or transfer.

The worst figure was that Antrim Area Hospital, where 100 people

waited for 12 hours. 94 patients had to wait the same time at the Ulster

Hospital. And at the Royal Victoria in Belfast, 28 people had to wait

over 12 hours. Tomorrow, I will be presenting from inside the Royal's

emergency department, talking to medical staff about pressures at

this time of year. George Best Belfast City Airport

is to be allowed to increase the total number of seats it can

sell per year on departing flights. Residents groups have fought

the move for 12 years, fearing it would led

to a busier, noisier airport. Our business correspondent

Julian O'Neill reports. Keep Ingram that's about four miles

from Belfast City Airport, but under a flight path, she says life is not

always as peaceful as it seems. I like to sleep with the window open

and in the morning, the first plane goes by and about 640 AM, so you are

away from 6:45am, even if you fancy a lie in, you have not got a hope

because if you want to be open, use your this roaring noise in your ears

and wake up. Residents groups have been worried about the impact of the

busier airport and at a public inquiry and 2015, they fought to

keep the limit on seats for sale. Adopting the inquiry's

recommendations, Minister Chris Hazzard is now set to allow the

removal of the seats' cap. It has been set at 2 million departures in

per year. The restrictions will be replaced by new noise controls. This

will limit levels of noise to a conqueror, or zone, of just over

five kilometres. The airport was looking for a much more liberal

noise controls than we that would have affected many more people. What

the Minister has fed if yes, I will remove the seats cap but in addition

to that we are going to admit the other recommendations, meaning

tougher noise controls than the airport was seeking. The airport was

in breach of the seats cap restriction years ago, when it had

RyanAir, but not in more recent times. It has not commented on this

latest move, an outcome 12 years and three judicial reviews in the

making, but it has seen the cap as technically a hindrance to choosing

your business. Removing this cap does give modest room for growth

year at the airport, but it will not be hugely transformative. Certainly,

there is no long queue of airlines wanting in, or no glut of new routes

expected as a result of this decision.

An environmental group is to challenge a court decision

on the unregulated dredging of sand from Lough Neagh.

Friends of the Earth lost the case last year.

As our Agriculture and Environment correspondent Conor Macauley

reports, experts have claimed that the sand business has very

It was back in November that Friends of the Earth lost their court case.

A judge ruled that the then Environment Minister had not been

turning a blind eye to the unauthorised extraction of sand from

the lough. He had used enforcement powers, just not one that would have

meant an immediate stop to the dredging, which continues to this

day. Environmentalists want the practice stopped, as they say it has

a detrimental impact on an important bird sanctuary and international

levels of protection. A report on that was drawn up as part of the

court battle, and its findings can now be made public for the first

time. This is the report commissioned by the Environment

Agency and released to us under Freedom of Information. It was drawn

on by the judge in his ruling against Friends of the Earth last

autumn. It said based on the available evidence, the impact of

dredging on the lough is negligible and highly localised. It take place

in a certain area and there is plenty of food for the birds in the

wider lough. It says dredging is are concentrated in a 50 square

kilometre area out of a total area of 383 square kilometres, which the

lough covers. Plumes of suspended sandwich are generated by the

underwater suction take around minutes to disperse. The environment

experts to see more information is needed, in particular they suggest

that work is done to establish whether dredging releases nutrients

and metal concentrations from the bed of the lough.

The police say bike theft has almost become the new car theft.

South Belfast in particular is being targeted by criminals

with a high number of residents using bikes to commute

In broad daylight, a brazen attempt to steal a bicycle in Belfast city

centre. Secured to the base of a road side, it is difficult to take.

His friend gives it a go. Plainclothes policemen are quick to

respond. Bicycle theft is almost like the new car theft, as it were.

Bicycles are more radical are readily available, more accessible

and people are just not aware of how to secure their bicycle. The PSNI

see some of the figures online suggest only one in six bicycles

stolen as reporters. Over the past ten years, South Belfast has had the

highest level of bike theft in Northern Ireland. It peaked in 2013,

2014 at 1000 with 400 stolen in south Belfast alone. This is a half

decent blog. It is probably worth about ?30. Hardened steel, Richard

is good as well, if you can. These are actually quite handy to carry as

well. Ideally, you want around the frame and the real, if you can. So

around this part of the frame, not here.

And that is you. The PSNI has been big registry scheme, which is free.

You get your bicycle Mike Burton individual code, which can traced

back to you. Like thieves are not just hitting the streets. Quite a

lot of especially high value are taken from residential properties,

so our advice would be very much around securing your bike at home,

as much as you would when you're out and about. Use the same locks and if

need be put anchors on a garage while or whatever area that you

secure your bicycle. Some bikes out their cost as much as from news cars

-- new cars. Usually theft is the last thing on their mind when they

are buying a nice new bicycle. They should have high locks on their

bikes, even any shader garage. If somebody was determined, can they

not get through any log? They can, but it will take more time and it is

a deterrent. If you want to be with you why, let alone at one with that,

the message is clear, get it registered and lock it.

Still to come on the programme: A big month ahead for Ulster rugby -

if they're to have a chance of qualifying in

The people of Rathlin Island are hoping that a one million pound

investment will encourage more people to visit and

The money has been used to renovate the old Manor House guesthouse,

significantly increasing the accomodation available.

Our north east reporter Sara Girvin has been

Just off the County Antrim caused live Rathlin, the only inhabited

offshore islands in Northern Ireland. It is home to 100 permanent

residents and now the newly refurbished manor house. The

18th-century guesthouse has been calls for a number of years before

its ?1 million face-lift, paid for from the public purse. It is a lot

of money, but islanders say such investment is vital to their future.

It is the next stage in our development. It is a focal point for

the island, the first thing you see when you get off the ferry. It will

attract new business and complement existing businesses on the island.

It is an investment in the future. It is a ?1 million a spread over the

next 25, 30 years, so when you break it down, it is not a big of money.

Rathlin is enjoying a renaissance, with the population almost double

what it was 30 years ago. A new harbour for a new ferry is being

built, and there are hopes of new social housing in 2017. Business

owners in the investment has changed the island's. Tourism is massively

important for the island. It is one of the main employers, plus we love

to show the island of two other people and let other people enjoy

it. Without all those things happening, I do not think we would

have a viable island that we have asked the minute. It is buzzing at

the minute. Rathlin had an ageing population for many years but

recently there has been an influx of. This woman came for one summer

nine years ago but stayed to raise her children because of the sense of

community. Whenever I had my first child and we came back to island,

and the ramp on the boat went down and there was maybe 30 or 40 people

standing there with banners and balloons and it was just that sense

of belonging, you just would not get that anywhere else. The new

operators of the manor house will open their doors in the next few

weeks. They hope the island will become a must see tourist

destination. Once you come here, you want to just keep coming back and

back. It is a place time just to stand still. If you get off the

boat, leave your watch on the board because this is it. Rathlin is

enjoying good days, but islanders believe that the Manor house and

other investment projects like it are vital, not just to guarantee the

present, but the island's future. Our local footballers have had

a busy festive period - and they are in action

again tonight. There's a full fixture of matches

in the Irish Premiership. Its may be the first

round of games in 2017, but for all the teams it a third

match in the space of eight days. Champions Crusaders lead at the top

of the table was cut to four points after they lost to nearest

challengers Linfied at the weekend. Tonight, Crusaders take on Ards

while Linfield host Coleraine - as the title race appears to be

turning into a two horse race. Champions Crusaders suffered their

first defeat in 29 home league matches on Saturday. As Linfield

kicked the title race alive with a 2-1 win. If it had went ten points,

it is a lot to drop back. They are brilliant site, a very strong side.

Very experienced. So to cut it back to four is brilliant, but a lot of

work to do still and we have to follow it up on Tuesday night. We

cannot do anything silly like Boxing Day. Crusaders are still a vacation

at the top but the league leaders face a side fresh from an important

win over Ballymena United. The important thing from our end is to

get about business business on Tuesday night and respond. We

responded well to it last year, we lost the same fixture last year, and

so it is a long way to go. We're looking forward to it. Big

challenge. Elsewhere, the third placed team play Carrick Rangers.

Hot on their heels is David Jefferies' Ballymena United, who

host Glenn at the Showgrounds. In a repeat of their Boxing Day fixture,

Al-Nour mannered United play the same opponents. And Portadown are at

Shamrock Park. Live commentary on radio Ulster,

text commentary on the BBC sport website.

January could be a make or break month for Ulster rugby.

First this Friday in the Pro 12 they travel to the Wales

Ulster, who have slipped to sixth in the table,

could do with a win if they're to push for a play off place.

That's followed by two European games - away to Exeter

Only two wins will do if they are to have any

Three big matches which will go a long way in defining Ulster's

season, after a inconsistent end to 2016.

The festive season started on sale with a win at home against Connacht.

But the smiles Abbey Stadium seemed a distant memory on New Year's Eve

at the RDS, when Leicester looked a class above an understrength Ulster.

They work hard for each other and their physical and the breakdowns

and always a contest, the speed of the game is dictated by that. I

think... We just were not on you know, we just were not of physical

and to put them on the back foot and for long periods of of time and, you

know, that is the frustration. With six Nations set to stretch

resources across the province 's, Leinster have produced a blueprint

for the rest to follow. They are working hard, showing good intent,

good desire to produce positive moments when they are out there.

That level of competition is really healthy for the group. We need it,

you know, if we want to be the team that produced the most players and

obviously we need to be able to field a strong teams and keep it

going when those guys are gone. For the most part, we're pretty happy.

Ulster will have to rally in January, with Freddie's trip to the

Scarlets is significant starting point. They have got themselves on a

good run from a couple of weeks ago and this period here is probably a

little bit of defining of the season and we have got a run of games at

home through that period as well so we have got to try to make sure we

pick on as many points of the cannily with her mum. That is why

today was frustrating. The big names will play their part but it is these

squad players that hold the key to success in 2017.

The Belfast Giants completed a successful holiday

period with a 4-1 win over the Coventry Blaze at

the SSE Arena yesterday - their sixth win in seven matches

It keeps the pressure on Elite League leaders Cardiff -

the gap between the two sides is only four points.

It was a lot of hockey. We are going to get back into tour this month

into normal schedule, work on conditioning and continue to work on

things I thought we had been struggling at. It's geared up for

Sheffield. Again, it a lot of mental drain on everyone and we got through

it without any major injuries but I am pretty sure the guys need a

couple of days of relaxation, a little bit.

Angie Phillips is here with the latest weather details.

Hello. The weather is still fairly settled at the moment.

Unfortunately, we did not have the sparkly winter sunshine we had

yesterday. A lot of cloud making its way into last night and on to today.

Thin enough to give a few bright spells, particularly in parts of the

East, and that gave us some lovely sunrise things with money. A

beautiful golden sunrise there, looking out towards the east over

Belfast. I have to say, there was more cloud sunshine around so that

is are going go into this evening, cloudy skies, still a bit of a

breeze around part of the coast but apart from the odd spot of trouble,

it is still mainly dry. We do have a week weather front approaching

throughout the night. Living on from the north-east. Quite a narrow band

of rain pushing into some northern and eastern parts during the latter

part of the night. Still dry towards the South West but that blanket of

road will give us a frost-free night. Temperatures are settling

between four 6 degrees. Into tomorrow, things eventually cheer up

a little and it is rather cloudy, still with some patchy rain as well

working its way southwards and westwards. Still a bit breezy rent

the course but that eases down into the afternoon. As the rain clears

the way, it dries up. It also bred up, probably the best sunshine for

Derry, Antrim, down and Armagh. May take a bit longer before the cloud

starts to break before south east, West -- the south-west. But later

went into tomorrow night, and with them when they clear spells, it is

turning quite a bit colder. Again, you can see the blue spreading out

across the map, don't everything, maybe down to minus two minus three

in rural areas. A chilly start, a bright start as well. We will see

cloud increasing through the course of the day, but it should stay off

the dry. It changes and diverse night. A weather front that is

moving, moving in against bringing in which a spell and bruises go. It

clears the way Friday, then it is drier, rather cloudy and a bit

milder. Good stuff, Angie.

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