:00:13. > :00:16.You're watching a specially extended BBC Newsline,
:00:17. > :00:19.with one main story - the Deputy First Minister Martin
:00:20. > :00:23.McGuinness announces that he's stepping down.
:00:24. > :00:25.He says the public are outraged at the squandering of money,
:00:26. > :00:43.Today I have told Arlene Foster that I have tendered my resignation,
:00:44. > :00:50.effective from five o'clock today. I believe today is the right time to
:00:51. > :00:54.call halt to the DUP's arrogance. Arlene Foster said she is
:00:55. > :00:56.disappointed by Sinn Fein's decision, which she says leaves no
:00:57. > :00:57.government to resolve the problem. I'm at Stormont where we'll be
:00:58. > :01:00.asking how we got to this point, we'll have reaction from all
:01:01. > :01:03.the parties here and we'll be trying In our other news this evening,
:01:04. > :01:08.a drunk driver who killed teenage student has his jail term increased
:01:09. > :01:11.by the appeal court. As the last United Airlines flight
:01:12. > :01:14.from Belfast to New York takes off, hope that other airlines may
:01:15. > :01:19.interested in taking over the route. And it's been chilly enough today
:01:20. > :01:21.after the mild weather over the weekend but that's nothing
:01:22. > :01:24.compared to what's coming our Warnings have been issued for both
:01:25. > :01:36.snow and strong winds. Martin McGuinness says he is
:01:37. > :01:39.resigning as Deputy First Minister because it's "time to call a halt
:01:40. > :01:43.to the DUP's arrogance". While there has been more
:01:44. > :01:46.than a month of political wrangling over the renewable heat scandal,
:01:47. > :01:48.in his formal resignation letter to the Assembly
:01:49. > :02:00.Speaker Robin Newton, Mr McGuinness said that The DUP had
:02:01. > :02:03.never fully embraced "the equality, mutual respect and all-Ireland
:02:04. > :02:04.approaches enshrined He also said successive
:02:05. > :02:11.British governments had. "Undermined the process of change
:02:12. > :02:17.by refusing to honour agreements ... While imposing austerity
:02:18. > :02:19.and Brexit against the best Mr McGuinness then went
:02:20. > :02:26.on to say that the DUP leader Arlene Foster had a clear
:02:27. > :02:31.conflict of interest". And as "
:02:32. > :02:33.The minister responsible for the RHI role in overseeing how it
:02:34. > :02:37.would be rectified." Mr McGuinness who has been suffering
:02:38. > :02:41.from ill-health in recent months said that had nothing to do
:02:42. > :02:45.with his decision to leave office. In a moment, in this specially
:02:46. > :02:48.extended BBC Newsline, we'll hear what his resignation
:02:49. > :02:51.means for the Assembly and the prospect of an election
:02:52. > :03:00.as Sinn Fein say they will not be We will find out what his
:03:01. > :03:04.resignation means for the assembly and look forward to the prospect of
:03:05. > :03:08.an election but first our correspondent Gareth Gordon looks to
:03:09. > :03:16.the announcement that took many by surprise. He looked and sounded
:03:17. > :03:19.frail but there was no doubting the strength of what Martin McGuinness
:03:20. > :03:29.was about to say. We in Sinn Fein will not tolerate the arrogance of
:03:30. > :03:32.Arlene Foster and the DUP, Sinn Fein was -- Sinn Fein wants equality and
:03:33. > :03:39.respect for everyone and that is what this process must be about. So
:03:40. > :03:46.today I have told Arlene Foster that I have tendered my resignation,
:03:47. > :03:50.effective from five o'clock today. He made it clear this was no longer
:03:51. > :04:08.just about the heating scandal and that alone. Said other decisions.
:04:09. > :04:12.The speckled assertions. The RHI was -- has run over by half ?1 billion
:04:13. > :04:16.and has left the process wide open to corruption. All of these things
:04:17. > :04:25.are hugely concerning for others in Sinn Fein and you can see by the
:04:26. > :04:28.wiki debate on hurling side has continued in the cause of recent
:04:29. > :04:34.times there is a massive public outcry. There may not be a mass of
:04:35. > :04:41.public-private outcry in the ranks of the DUP, I told Arlene Foster the
:04:42. > :04:45.DUP have been living in a bubble. They do not seem to understand how
:04:46. > :04:53.serious the general public and voters and other parties in the
:04:54. > :04:59.assembly make of this ridiculous situation which bears full
:05:00. > :05:04.responsibility for the Minnesota the DUP rebel in charge. Martin
:05:05. > :05:10.McGuinness was asked if his health was a factor. My health has
:05:11. > :05:12.absolutely nothing to do with this whatsoever, I have been deeply
:05:13. > :05:17.involved in all of the conversations in the course of recent weeks, not
:05:18. > :05:21.just with our negotiating team but I was here last week speaking to
:05:22. > :05:28.Arlene Foster. I have been doing my job. As is appropriate for me to do
:05:29. > :05:37.so. Sounds like it'll take more an election to resolve this. There will
:05:38. > :05:41.be no interruption to the status quo and spent -- now return to the
:05:42. > :05:44.status quo except on terms acceptable to Sinn Fein. The
:05:45. > :05:51.situation we have been dealing with this unacceptable, I have now called
:05:52. > :05:55.a halt to the DUP arrogance and of the DUP think in the aftermath of an
:05:56. > :06:00.election that they can step back into ministerial positions short of
:06:01. > :06:04.resolving the critical issues, some of which I have identified during
:06:05. > :06:10.the course of this conversation, then they are living in a fools
:06:11. > :06:14.paradise. In an election will Martin McGuinness be a candidate? Goal that
:06:15. > :06:19.is something I will speak to you about at a later date, about my
:06:20. > :06:23.resignation. Ten years ago Martin McGuinness began a relationship with
:06:24. > :06:27.a DUP leader that was warmer than anyone could have expected. But as
:06:28. > :06:31.the cash for ash scandal heated up things with Arlene Foster cools
:06:32. > :06:34.down, and Stormont now faces a very long time with a deep freeze, --
:06:35. > :06:37.with a deep freeze. Let's get analysis from our
:06:38. > :06:39.political editor Mark Devenport and Mark people will be surprised
:06:40. > :06:42.not just by the announcement by Martin McGuinness today but also
:06:43. > :06:50.by the obvious deterioration Sinn Fein has not specified what the
:06:51. > :06:53.illness is that Martin McGuinness has been suffering from City Council
:06:54. > :06:58.that your god is the trip to China last month, but you don't have to be
:06:59. > :07:04.a doctor to be light it is serious. Has it been a factor in the
:07:05. > :07:08.decision-making in this? Martin says no, what we did speak to the former
:07:09. > :07:12.Sinn Fein MLA Daniel Mackay earlier today and he said that comments from
:07:13. > :07:18.Arlene Foster at the about Sinn Fein politicians jockeying for politician
:07:19. > :07:21.-- for position behind Martin McGuinness's back at up the ante. I
:07:22. > :07:26.think those comments from the First Minister went down like a lead
:07:27. > :07:29.balloon, obviously the First Minister thought that by trying to
:07:30. > :07:31.raise the health of the Deputy First Minister that she could create a
:07:32. > :07:36.distraction from her own problems but I think all it does, all it has
:07:37. > :07:41.done is highlighted the lack of leadership skills the First Minister
:07:42. > :07:44.has because if the Deputy First Minister had been in the same
:07:45. > :07:49.position he would not have taken advantage of his partner's health.
:07:50. > :07:54.Set out the timetable of what happens. At five o'clock tonight
:07:55. > :07:57.Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster officially stop being first and
:07:58. > :08:02.Debbie diverse minister. Arlene Foster can still carry out some
:08:03. > :08:06.functions of the office but effectively the clock is ticking and
:08:07. > :08:11.the bat on passes to the Secretary of State on Monday. It is then up to
:08:12. > :08:14.him to cause a -- to call an election. You can take a reasonable
:08:15. > :08:17.measure of time by doing that but if he does call an election on a
:08:18. > :08:22.six-week campaign we could look at a fresh poll in early March.
:08:23. > :08:27.And all the while, while the election campaign takes place, what
:08:28. > :08:31.happens with the RHI scheme? In terms of stemming potential
:08:32. > :08:35.losses, ?490 million, that is now scheme that has been put in place.
:08:36. > :08:41.In terms of the Green bean independent investigation, nothing
:08:42. > :08:45.on that score either. Some might say we are cutting off our nose to spite
:08:46. > :08:50.our face but Sinn Fein says when we return it will not be to the status
:08:51. > :08:53.quo so that must mean wider negotiations not just on the
:08:54. > :08:55.renewable heat scandal but on a wider range of issues.
:08:56. > :08:57.Well Martin's McGuinness's decision to resign comes almost ten years
:08:58. > :09:01.BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson looks back at some of the twists
:09:02. > :09:09.and turns which led up to today's dramatic events.
:09:10. > :09:18.He has been Stormont's longest serving minister, stretching back to
:09:19. > :09:23.the early days of power-sharing. I nominate Martin McGuinness as
:09:24. > :09:27.Minister for education. An even bigger surprise was to come when he
:09:28. > :09:32.became Deputy First Minister, he got an remarkably well with Ian Paisley.
:09:33. > :09:36.We have been described as the chuckle Brothers by people who
:09:37. > :09:40.thought that might by people who would have demeaned as in the
:09:41. > :09:44.beginning. It turned against them in the end and we hope we can chuckle
:09:45. > :09:48.through 2008. Would Peter Robinson took over as First Minister
:09:49. > :09:53.relations became strained, very strange, but they somehow managed to
:09:54. > :09:56.work through it. We have disagreements at times, there has
:09:57. > :10:00.never been an occasion where we have refused to speak to one another so
:10:01. > :10:03.we have the ability to sit down and work out your problems. When Arlene
:10:04. > :10:08.Foster became First Minister initially be worked well together,
:10:09. > :10:10.and at the time of last year 's election Martin McGuinness said he
:10:11. > :10:16.was looking forward to making the new executive work. I am as fit as a
:10:17. > :10:20.fiddle, I have all my faculties and great support from my family and
:10:21. > :10:25.party and they are adamant I continue with the work I do. The IRA
:10:26. > :10:28.tried to kill Arlene Foster's father, for how this meant that
:10:29. > :10:33.working with Sinn Fein was never easy but she said she was prepared
:10:34. > :10:39.to do it for the greater good. I want to focus on the future and not
:10:40. > :10:42.the past. One of the big challenges was a Brexit Ford, it did make life
:10:43. > :10:46.difficult but did not cause a crisis. The test will be how this
:10:47. > :10:51.British Prime Minister deals with the issues of concern that we have
:10:52. > :10:57.raised to what will be a very historic negotiation. Now a definite
:10:58. > :11:00.was Asian is on the cards. On the table will be RHI, the Irish
:11:01. > :11:05.language, social issues, dealing with the past and all the other
:11:06. > :11:14.issues that have poured DUP and Sinn Fein apart in recent months. That --
:11:15. > :11:19.now a definite change is on the cards.
:11:20. > :11:26.Let's TZ some of those issues. Paul, you have been accused of arrogant
:11:27. > :11:31.and living in a bubble. Given that came from Gerry Adams that is said
:11:32. > :11:35.on that issue. Obviously we're disappointed that Martin has decided
:11:36. > :11:38.to resign and walk away instead of dealing with these problems, we had
:11:39. > :11:42.an election months ago and Arlene was returned with a renewed mandate
:11:43. > :11:45.of over 200,000 votes, Sinn Fein did not like that and I can understand
:11:46. > :11:48.why but we need to work through these problems but instead they
:11:49. > :11:52.walked through the door. We will go to the country and put forward
:11:53. > :11:56.positions and let's be clear, this is not about the RHI scheme, the now
:11:57. > :11:59.can't be an enquiry because of Sinn Fein, we cannot recover the money
:12:00. > :12:03.under the proposals that we are ready to use because of Sinn Fein,
:12:04. > :12:08.instead they have called an election. Because this is about
:12:09. > :12:13.removing Arlene Foster as the leader of unionism and weakening unionism
:12:14. > :12:18.to pursue a public agenda. Did you take Sinn Fein and the support for
:12:19. > :12:21.granted? We did not, we recognise that the electorate at the people
:12:22. > :12:25.return individuals to office, we do business with people on that basis.
:12:26. > :12:28.We are not friends with Sinn Fein did not seek to be friends with Sinn
:12:29. > :12:32.Fein but we do business with Sinn Fein because that is the electorate
:12:33. > :12:36.decided to return. The public will suffer as a result of this decision
:12:37. > :12:41.because cannot now have a budget. And the finance Minister knows that
:12:42. > :12:44.better than anyone else. The voluntary and community sector will
:12:45. > :12:48.be pitting people on notice. The Bedroom Tax for example, I can bring
:12:49. > :12:56.a regulation in to stop that being introduced to Sinn Fein have two be
:12:57. > :13:00.held to account for how they are using the public. With painting does
:13:01. > :13:05.Arlene Foster stepping aside six weeks ago not look like a better
:13:06. > :13:08.action? Arlene Foster is being called to account three Sinn Fein
:13:09. > :13:13.Republican agenda, not evidence. That is due process to be followed,
:13:14. > :13:18.we said we want the enquiry and said that we would have a public enquiry
:13:19. > :13:22.under the enquiry is act 2005. Sinn Fein did not want that. We wanted
:13:23. > :13:25.proposals to deal with these costs and Sinn Fein did not want it, they
:13:26. > :13:28.want to go to the country because there are internal issues in
:13:29. > :13:31.republicanism that is clear from the interview that Martin McGuinness has
:13:32. > :13:35.given over who will replace him and there is a wider narrative around
:13:36. > :13:40.the maze development, the Irish line which act, all the things that Sinn
:13:41. > :13:45.Fein don't like. They have brought the issue is down. How the comeback
:13:46. > :13:49.as a result of the -- after the results of the electorate is the
:13:50. > :13:54.challenge. So that is not alternative? We are calling time on
:13:55. > :13:59.corruption and arrogance, corruption evidence by red sky and numb and RHI
:14:00. > :14:03.scheme, and of course there can be no investigation into the RHI scheme
:14:04. > :14:08.until Arlene Foster steps aside. She has scuppered the investigation by
:14:09. > :14:11.refusing to do that. But also breathtaking arrogance and
:14:12. > :14:20.disrespect for the tradition as evidenced by the decision at the
:14:21. > :14:23.mouth of Christmas, to take ?50,000 from children who want to learn
:14:24. > :14:28.Irish language. Talking about straws that broke the camel 's back, the
:14:29. > :14:31.RHI scheme and awaited DUP have created that scheme and refused to
:14:32. > :14:39.shoot the military or allow us to have the investigation -- refused to
:14:40. > :14:44.show humility. The issues that both concerned about, of course we are
:14:45. > :14:49.concerned about, we want to see good governance. Did they take you for
:14:50. > :14:53.granted? We want a government that has zero tolerance for sectarianism
:14:54. > :14:57.of corruption. Did they take the public for granted? Did the bite off
:14:58. > :15:01.more than they could chew? Did do not listen to the warnings?
:15:02. > :15:08.Absolutely. The DUP were told again and again, act with respect to
:15:09. > :15:11.everyone. Now we are facing internal action over corruption and
:15:12. > :15:16.arrogance. Martin McGuinness said there will be no corrupt -- now
:15:17. > :15:19.return to the status quo. It is clear that there will be protracted
:15:20. > :15:23.negotiations are so we could have no Stormont for a couple of years. That
:15:24. > :15:29.is up to the DUP in particular poll has already said about what happens
:15:30. > :15:33.after the election. I'm saying very clearly there will be no return to
:15:34. > :15:37.the status quo, we will not go back to any government that tolerates
:15:38. > :15:39.corruption or sectarianism in any way and that is what has been
:15:40. > :15:45.hallowed to happen in the last few weeks with the RHI scheme. We have
:15:46. > :15:49.called time on that. Poll about the decision not Irish language that was
:15:50. > :15:53.read by many nationalists as extremely arrogant. That is not the
:15:54. > :15:57.case, Irish language is for everyone, it was Unionist to kept
:15:58. > :16:01.the language alive Scottish Presbyterians, a language that all
:16:02. > :16:06.should be proud of. When you look at Bursaries around ?500 per child, is
:16:07. > :16:09.that money that could have been better spent? It was not an attack
:16:10. > :16:12.on the Irish language. But to weaponised and use it as a cultural
:16:13. > :16:17.weapon which Sinn Fein have done repeatedly that is what does most
:16:18. > :16:20.damage to the Irish language. Do you find yourself in a long negotiations
:16:21. > :16:24.when the Irish language act will come on the table and you will be
:16:25. > :16:29.forced to bring that its additions up and running? The DUP have never
:16:30. > :16:32.been forced to do anything at the behest of Sinn Fein and we will not
:16:33. > :16:36.be forced to remove a leader at the behest of Sinn Fein. What are you
:16:37. > :16:40.saying to the public? You will have no government for X number of
:16:41. > :16:44.months? We want the government to work. We have shown government can
:16:45. > :16:47.work and none of the issues that Sinn Fein have now used to justify
:16:48. > :16:53.calling time as they have put it on these institutions are not the one
:16:54. > :16:56.year ago, two years ago in terms of debates but for whatever reason and
:16:57. > :17:00.the public know what they are within the republican movement there using
:17:01. > :17:01.those reasons to bring these institutions to ahead thank you
:17:02. > :17:02.both. The Secretary of State James
:17:03. > :17:05.Brokenshire said a short time ago that the UK government
:17:06. > :17:14.would do all it can to help The position is clear. If Sinn Fein
:17:15. > :17:20.does not nominate a replacement to the role of the different minister
:17:21. > :17:28.then I am obliged to call an election of the assembly within a
:17:29. > :17:33.reasonable period. I would urge the political parties, the leaders of
:17:34. > :17:39.the political parties to come together and work together to find a
:17:40. > :17:44.solution to the current position and we will be doing all that we can
:17:45. > :17:48.with the political parties and the Irish government to that end.
:17:49. > :17:54.I'm joined now by UUP Leader Mike Nesbitt;
:17:55. > :18:01.. This is the worst outcome for everyone, doesn't it? Yes, it is not
:18:02. > :18:05.about the renewable heat initiative, if it was Sinn Fein would hang into
:18:06. > :18:10.old Arlene Foster to account to bringing the cost controls were
:18:11. > :18:13.missing. It cost ?85,000 of taxpayer money today because of the lack of
:18:14. > :18:17.cost controls and they would be looking for a public enquiry or
:18:18. > :18:20.something similar. So it is not about renewable heat it is about
:18:21. > :18:23.Sinn Fein looking after Sinn Fein 's interests and I hope the public
:18:24. > :18:29.reflect on the fact we have had ten years of Sinn Fein DUP rule, decade
:18:30. > :18:34.characterised by scandals, tobaccos and disappointments and if we do go
:18:35. > :18:37.to the polls but remember that there is the possibility of change. There
:18:38. > :18:40.was change in America and with Brexit, people do react when they
:18:41. > :18:45.get angry and people are angry about renewable heat. Poll given was
:18:46. > :18:48.pretty bullish about their chances in an election and you are a long
:18:49. > :18:54.way behind them. This surely cuts down on the time you had to give
:18:55. > :18:57.unionism Altera device. Yama what is different about this cannot compare
:18:58. > :19:01.to the others like red sky and the social investment fund, people
:19:02. > :19:07.generally get this, they understand cash for Ash is a real scandal and
:19:08. > :19:11.the crush of -- the cross about it. They may welcome the opportunity to
:19:12. > :19:16.commit an vote and if you look at voting patterns in 1998, ten to the
:19:17. > :19:19.assembly 70%, last year 55%, if anything will encourage people to
:19:20. > :19:21.come out and vote for change, to change this full record of
:19:22. > :19:31.incompetence, this must be it. Thank you. Let's hear from the leader of
:19:32. > :19:34.the SDLP. This is disastrous for all the parties because you have to
:19:35. > :19:39.quote and face the electorate several months after doing the same
:19:40. > :19:44.thing. We are not afraid of an election, we look forward to it. But
:19:45. > :19:47.it has been brought about by Arlene Foster's arrogance and Sinn Fein 's
:19:48. > :19:50.weakness over the past ten years. Did they not commit stronger today
:19:51. > :19:55.because they have brought the institutions down and forced her
:19:56. > :19:58.hand and she did not take it? They had an opportunity to vote for the
:19:59. > :20:03.public enquiry and didn't take it. If you look at what happened today,
:20:04. > :20:06.Sinn Fein talk a lot about the ad is in good and equality. They produced
:20:07. > :20:09.a draft programme for government couple of weeks ago was no mention
:20:10. > :20:14.of an Irish line would act, nor anti-poverty strategy and now
:20:15. > :20:17.poverty Bill, but we were told we had to wear that and accepted so
:20:18. > :20:21.Sinn Fein are now seeing they are annoyed at the way the DUP have
:20:22. > :20:24.acted but they have aided and abetted them for ten years. I don't
:20:25. > :20:28.know what they're worried about, we do know today is the will not be a
:20:29. > :20:31.full public enquiry into the RHI scheme. Those people who should be
:20:32. > :20:36.afraid of accountability are getting a two-month holiday from a
:20:37. > :20:40.credibility. I do not understand it in the public don't. Could be a much
:20:41. > :20:44.longer holiday all-round, Google will wonder about a budget and what
:20:45. > :20:48.happens next. We still don't have a budget or a final programme for
:20:49. > :20:52.government, we don't have a plan for Brexit. During this crisis what will
:20:53. > :20:57.happen is Theresa May will trigger article 50. We will be in the
:20:58. > :21:00.process of Brexit in the area most affected by it will have no voice.
:21:01. > :21:05.That is because of the arrogance and weakness of these two parties.
:21:06. > :21:08.Let's hear from the Alliance party. The Brexit issue is a massive one,
:21:09. > :21:13.we have Nicola Sturgeon talking about them being the only government
:21:14. > :21:17.with a plan. We are part of the UK with no government. Worse than that,
:21:18. > :21:21.when we did have a government it was not one capable of showing
:21:22. > :21:24.leadership which is why we're standing here today. The reality is
:21:25. > :21:28.that the DUP have been entirely tone deaf, both of the partners in
:21:29. > :21:32.government and the anger of public outside these situations. Sinn Fein
:21:33. > :21:36.are happy to prop up when it suited them because they too were being
:21:37. > :21:39.arrogant, we were not seeing the proper process is being gone through
:21:40. > :21:41.with respect to budget controls and everything else. Now we find that
:21:42. > :21:44.Sinn Fein are obviously getting pushed by their own electorate and
:21:45. > :21:49.so they have called this four part biblical posturing, not for the
:21:50. > :21:52.public of Northern Ireland. The public are sick to the back teeth of
:21:53. > :21:55.the crisis at Stormont. They want good government and to see people
:21:56. > :21:59.who are less keen to dig responsibility as they are to take
:22:00. > :22:03.power. And what we have here is not that it is the opposite. That is the
:22:04. > :22:08.message you have said before and it has not seen the Alliance through to
:22:09. > :22:11.victory. It has not but this is a different situation because what I
:22:12. > :22:14.detect that there is real anger, real anger and change things and we
:22:15. > :22:18.offering them a different alternative. We are willing to take
:22:19. > :22:21.responsibility and stand up and be accountable. If others were willing
:22:22. > :22:26.to do the same we would not be in this mess.
:22:27. > :22:30.Thank you. Quite the hill to climb. We are back later in the programme
:22:31. > :22:40.with our political editor. For now it is back to you. In a few minutes
:22:41. > :22:42.we will speak to article commentators about the resignation
:22:43. > :22:44.of Martin McGuinness and its applications.
:22:45. > :22:48.In other news - A drunk driver who killed a County Tyrone teenager
:22:49. > :22:50.has been given an extra year in prison by the Court of Appeal.
:22:51. > :22:52.18-year-old Enda Dolan was knocked down and killed
:22:53. > :22:56.His father says the increased jail sentence is not enough.
:22:57. > :23:12.Enda Dolan was a talented teenager who had just started studying
:23:13. > :23:17.architecture at Queens University. He was knocked down and killed by a
:23:18. > :23:20.drunk driver on the 15th of October 2014 as he returned to his halls of
:23:21. > :23:23.residence. Evidently steward of Grace Park Avenue was sentenced to
:23:24. > :23:27.see and have years in jail with another three and a half on licence.
:23:28. > :23:32.The sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal 's on the basis that
:23:33. > :23:34.it was unduly lenient. The court was reminded that on the night of the
:23:35. > :23:41.killing steward had consumed six pints of beer, for cocktails known
:23:42. > :23:44.as Eurobonds and the other drinks. It was also suggested he had been
:23:45. > :23:47.taking drugs before getting behind the wheel. The Court of Appeal
:23:48. > :23:53.decided to increase the sentence which means it steward. The had --
:23:54. > :23:56.spend an extra year in prison. Increasing the prison term from the
:23:57. > :23:59.scene half to a foreigner have used the Lord Chief Justice said nothing
:24:00. > :24:04.is court can do can turn the clock back. What happened was needless,
:24:05. > :24:08.senseless and entirely avoidable so Declan Martin said in cases of this
:24:09. > :24:12.kind deterrent sentences must continue to be imposed. While
:24:13. > :24:18.welcoming the increase, the boy's father said it should have been
:24:19. > :24:24.more. Satisfied would be the word, again in my opinion it is not enough
:24:25. > :24:28.given the crime that he committed. I think it is still a disgrace, I
:24:29. > :24:31.think the justice system needs to be looked at, I think legislation in
:24:32. > :24:36.relation to drinking and driving needs to build that. Since Enda
:24:37. > :24:41.Dolan's death that is something the whole family has to deal with
:24:42. > :24:45.everyday. Christmas was difficult, there was an empty seat at the table
:24:46. > :24:50.and there was a lot of tears. Unfortunately that is the way it is.
:24:51. > :24:54.You must either family celebrations like birthdays and other times of
:24:55. > :24:58.the year that you have other family gatherings and he is not there. The
:24:59. > :25:02.dull and family say they will continue the campaign to have
:25:03. > :25:05.sentences for drunk drivers who kill increased.
:25:06. > :25:08.A solicitor for a 22-year-old man accused of procuring drugs intended
:25:09. > :25:10.to cause an abortion has protested about delays
:25:11. > :25:17.two drugs which are commonly used woman is charged with taking
:25:18. > :25:20.to bring about a miscarriage or abortion.
:25:21. > :25:25.The case was adjourned until later this month.
:25:26. > :25:28.As many as three airlines are said to be looking at
:25:29. > :25:31.a new Belfast to New York air service.
:25:32. > :25:33.Today Northern Ireland waved goodbye to its existing link
:25:34. > :25:39.Our business correspondent Julian O'Neill reports
:25:40. > :25:54.The last United Airlines New York flight was almost fool with 150
:25:55. > :25:58.passengers booked to travel. The route is being axed due to its pure
:25:59. > :26:02.financial performance and after the airline said that the European
:26:03. > :26:08.Commission indicated a ?9 million rescue package involving Stormont
:26:09. > :26:18.would break rules around state aid. It is a sad day for us and for me,
:26:19. > :26:22.it is, I chose to come over and they choose to come at New Year and see
:26:23. > :26:24.Mum and go home at the last one and say goodbye to your. The
:26:25. > :26:29.grandchildren are here so it makes it so convenient, instead of flying
:26:30. > :26:36.into Dublin, waiting the hour for the bus, two hours on the bus etc
:26:37. > :26:40.etc. This was Northern Ireland only year round long haul flight, and
:26:41. > :26:44.when the executive has claimed was important to attracting inward
:26:45. > :26:51.investment by US companies. The service has been running for the
:26:52. > :26:55.best part of 11 years, but finding a replacement is not proving
:26:56. > :26:58.straightforward. I understand the airport is presently in negotiations
:26:59. > :27:03.with up to three airlines with a view to taking on the New York
:27:04. > :27:07.route. There are several hot leads and we will follow up with that to
:27:08. > :27:13.get that replacement in but it does take time, you can switch it on
:27:14. > :27:17.overnight. Airlines do not have available aircraft ready to go so we
:27:18. > :27:20.will keep talking to those carriers. I understand the low-cost carrier
:27:21. > :27:25.Norwegian air is one of those taking a look. It might be seeking public
:27:26. > :27:27.funds before committing to not just a New York service but Boston as
:27:28. > :27:32.well. A bus driver has been praised
:27:33. > :27:34.for helping to save a middle-aged man who was
:27:35. > :27:36.in a distressed state The driver was on an early morning
:27:37. > :27:58.journey from Londonderry to Dublin Rowland Ward set off an ordinary
:27:59. > :28:02.express run to Dublin seven on Saturday morning. Within half an
:28:03. > :28:10.hour, his day took an extraordinary tone on this bridge on 01. There was
:28:11. > :28:14.a young man working for us and another gentleman in his early 50s.
:28:15. > :28:23.He looked distressed, this person, and I looked. I stopped the bus, it
:28:24. > :28:27.was just a reaction and when I got off the bus and looked, he was on
:28:28. > :28:32.the other side of the ratings towards the Riverside. It was still
:28:33. > :28:39.dark and every passing moment was critical. The man was in distress on
:28:40. > :28:43.the side of the bridge and the efforts of the bus driver and Newman
:28:44. > :28:47.became a mental and physical struggle. I had him by one arm, and
:28:48. > :28:50.a young fellow had him by the other arm and we were trying to physically
:28:51. > :28:57.pulled across the railings to try and get him. Then a young fellow
:28:58. > :29:02.came with a safety harness that he had on the back of his van, and he
:29:03. > :29:07.put that on the side of the bridge, he leaned over the bridge, lifted
:29:08. > :29:12.his legs up. The bus driver says that he has been assured that the
:29:13. > :29:16.man he helped is now in good care, and following his dramatic
:29:17. > :29:24.intervention, he is now taking this week off work. Back to the main
:29:25. > :29:28.story, the resignation of Mark McGuinness as Deputy First Minister.
:29:29. > :29:32.We have been asking people on the streets of Belfast what they think
:29:33. > :29:37.about what happened today. It is very sad that he has stepped down
:29:38. > :29:40.but it will probably have a big impact on what this to come for
:29:41. > :29:44.Arlene Foster and the rest of the country, really. It is another
:29:45. > :29:50.election. Nothing we can do about it. Will it make any difference the
:29:51. > :29:56.assembly? Not really. Who knows what is going to happen next? It is
:29:57. > :30:00.interesting that something is moving, anyway. What we think of the
:30:01. > :30:05.possibility of another election? Would I like one? Don't know, just
:30:06. > :30:10.don't know. At least it's sort of start something. I'd be disappointed
:30:11. > :30:15.if there was another election. I am not sure that it would make any
:30:16. > :30:21.difference. But if it does, we will have two pass the vote and see what
:30:22. > :30:26.comes out of it. How do you think the RHI scandal has reflected on the
:30:27. > :30:32.assembly? It has not reflected well. A lot of people are very cynical of
:30:33. > :30:35.what is going on. It is time for an election, definitely, we need
:30:36. > :30:41.change. Do you think it should have come to this? I'm sorry you did. I
:30:42. > :30:47.don't know. Would it make any difference? I don't know. The last
:30:48. > :30:51.thing we need now is an election. We need to come together and sort out
:30:52. > :30:54.the problems we are already trying to deal with. Do you think an
:30:55. > :30:59.election could make any difference to the assembly? I don't know, but
:31:00. > :31:03.of all the time and effort that will be spent on it it is not what I
:31:04. > :31:05.would be spending time and effort on. Just a sample of public opinion
:31:06. > :31:22.there. Who wins and loses this? I'm not
:31:23. > :31:26.sure that anybody wins. I reckon action thing could not have let it
:31:27. > :31:29.go any longer to let this week build-up to some kind of melodrama
:31:30. > :31:33.would have made them look worse and would not have done Arlene Foster
:31:34. > :31:42.any good, either. Beyond that, in electoral terms, it would have
:31:43. > :31:50.damaged things as much as staying on would have done to Sinn Fein. From a
:31:51. > :31:52.unionist voters' point of view, will the election and possible
:31:53. > :31:57.resignation make much difference? This will not be an election about
:31:58. > :32:02.the RHI scandal. Sinn Fein has known about this for over a year
:32:03. > :32:07.internally. It is also the case that all of these other issues that have
:32:08. > :32:11.been raised, gay rights, the Bill of Rights, things that had been long
:32:12. > :32:14.forgotten when the DUP and Sinn Fein were working coherently in
:32:15. > :32:19.government together over seven months have been known about.
:32:20. > :32:23.National inverses of an arms that Sinn Fein seems to be getting
:32:24. > :32:29.nothing out of Stormont, so it is wider than RHI. What it will come
:32:30. > :32:37.back to is what sort of politicians will, what platform will politicians
:32:38. > :32:41.be going forward on. I think the effect for Sinn Fein was definitely
:32:42. > :32:46.that they had to go. There were other things there. Red Sky and
:32:47. > :32:53.Nama. A list that has been mentioned today. Parra has not been shared,
:32:54. > :33:00.and the DUP never seemed ready to do that. I don't think that is a
:33:01. > :33:08.particularly partisan view. The DUP would admit that. It is not a word
:33:09. > :33:13.that they use easily, in fact rarely, and cumulatively, RHI
:33:14. > :33:27.definitely playing a part, and the last straw being the DUP cup. Arlene
:33:28. > :33:30.Foster Sting, is she being seen as a strong lead over by her electorate?
:33:31. > :33:39.She will be comfortable with Sinn Fein attacking and the language that
:33:40. > :33:46.Gerry Adams used. That plays very well to the DUP base. It plays well
:33:47. > :33:48.to the DUP base. Neither of those parties have been comfortable
:33:49. > :33:52.addressing what has been a huge failure of government on their
:33:53. > :33:57.watch. They were both partly responsible for this, the DUP much
:33:58. > :34:00.more culpable. They fail to see this and to stop it. Sinn Fein have known
:34:01. > :34:03.about this for one year. What has happened in that time and why has
:34:04. > :34:08.there been no emergency legislation to recoup these costs? That all
:34:09. > :34:12.falls apart. There will be no inquiry in the short-term and of the
:34:13. > :34:15.assembly does not come back will there ever be an inquiry? Brother be
:34:16. > :34:25.an election? It is almost inevitable. Yes, there will be an
:34:26. > :34:29.election. We have not had much snow so far this winter but that could be
:34:30. > :34:34.about to change. Cecilia Delie is in the weather studio with -- studio
:34:35. > :34:38.that although the details. That is the main message this week. It is
:34:39. > :34:43.going to get much colder during the course of Wednesday. As that cold
:34:44. > :34:48.air arrives all the way from Canada, it will bring snow showers and
:34:49. > :34:54.bitterly cold winds which could, in themselves, be a hazard. The hills
:34:55. > :34:59.catching the worst of the snow, the North and west in particular will
:35:00. > :35:03.probably see more snow. Stay tuned to the forecast. Warnings have been
:35:04. > :35:07.issued for strong winds and snow from 6pm on Wednesday. No slow
:35:08. > :35:14.tonight but there will be some rain for a while. Most of us will escape
:35:15. > :35:20.the post and ice tonight. In fact, tomorrow is the exception to the
:35:21. > :35:24.rest of the week. There will be some mild air, and some rain and drizzle
:35:25. > :35:27.in the morning. But you should not have to scrape your windscreen.
:35:28. > :35:31.Quite blustery in the morning with a brisk wind along the north coast.
:35:32. > :35:35.There will be some wet weather, as you can see. Nothing too heavy, but
:35:36. > :35:39.you will need an umbrella to start the day. It does not last, with a
:35:40. > :35:44.good chunk of the day brightening up for a time and temperatures in
:35:45. > :35:48.double figures. During the course of Wednesday it will start to turn
:35:49. > :35:52.colder with strong winds and driving rain showers through the day, but
:35:53. > :35:57.those will become increasingly wintry through Wednesday night and
:35:58. > :36:01.into Thursday. So a reminder, warnings have been issued for strong
:36:02. > :36:07.winds and snow. Thursday looks to be the worst of the days this week.
:36:08. > :36:12.Let's go back to Stormont and to Tara Mills. Lots to die just today,
:36:13. > :36:25.Mark. Any chance of suspension rather than an election -- lots to
:36:26. > :36:30.digests. As part of the deal that was done in Scotland in 2006, Parra
:36:31. > :36:33.was taken off the statute book. This present government without do you
:36:34. > :36:37.use an emergency law to put it back onto the statute book. Government
:36:38. > :36:41.Celsius indicate they don't intend to do that. They intend to let the
:36:42. > :36:49.current law take its course. That means an election. What will the key
:36:50. > :36:54.battles be? You could say every paddle -- every party will be the
:36:55. > :36:59.loser, they will be going down to one less seat in each constituency
:37:00. > :37:02.so one, potentially losses all round and the battle lines will be quite
:37:03. > :37:07.fierce. We have this fierce argument between the main parties over the
:37:08. > :37:12.RHI scandal and other issues, you can imagine some of the arguments.
:37:13. > :37:16.And the opposition party saying, these two parties promised a fresh
:37:17. > :37:21.start. They were going to make everything better. Instead, they
:37:22. > :37:26.messed things up. All the while, the bills continue to mount up in the
:37:27. > :37:32.RHI scandal and no sign of any structure of the investigation into
:37:33. > :37:39.it. That's it from Stormont for this evening. We will have an extended
:37:40. > :37:42.programme at 10:25pm. For now, we leave you from another day of
:37:43. > :37:43.uncertainty and drama at Parliament buildings.