12/01/2017 BBC Newsline

The headlines this Thursday evening...

A U-turn by the DUP restores money to an Irish language scheme -

but campaigners say it doesn't go far enough.

We are still at the whim of ministers who at different times

have suppressed their hostility to the Irish language.

The British and Irish governments meet local

politicians for talks - but there's no sign

Arguments go on about whether the Stormont crisis

means tenants will be hit by the bedroom tax.

When they are doing their squabbling and fighting, they are not thinking

of the likes of us as people. a County Antrim man who sold

it is sent to jail. Further disruption can be expected

with warnings for snow and ice. I'll have the latest

later in the programme. Funding to an Irish language scheme

has been reinstated - The ?50,000 cut to the Liofa

scheme caused anger - and supporters protested

at the office of the Communities On social media Mr Givan said

the original decision wasn't political and that the money had

now been found. As our Education Correspondent,

Robbie Meredith, reports this morning's protest went ahead

despite the Minister's announcement. A protest which turned into a bit of

a party. That is the thing about the Irish community. We come out and we

are angry but we can make it positive. Due to an unexpected

U-turn by the communities minister. In eight week he said he had found

money for the Liofa scheme. Money he had originally stopped on the

sporting day before Christmas. Although the crowd behind me are

celebrating the return of the Liofa funding, this is the latest occasion

when rows of the Irish language and the prominence it has on society

have made the headlines. Querrey my UK. ... Some time ago but Gregory

Campbell ease the language in the Assembly. Michelle McIlveen ordered

that the Irish nameplate be removed and replaced with the name in

English. Although it was still defying her decision today. An Irish

language activist wanted much more than the Liofa scheme. They want

Irish blood on a par with English as a language. We have sought and

received support from a broad range of political parties and we welcome

that. We would ask all who have stood with us loss far to continue

to stand of us and not enter any agreement with the Executive with

the current crisis without an Irish act and write anguish ayes Irish

speakers being a red line issue. The Irish language act would guarantee a

number of things including the option for Irish to be used in

court. In debates in the Assembly and to be used by Allstate bodies

including the police. There would also be an Irish line which

Commissioner to ensure the language have been facilitated. To make it

law would need Executive agreement and some activists say Sinn Fein

should and called back into government without that. Calling on

them to say there will be no return to government without a specific

commitment and a timescale with the enactment of a rights -based strong

and comprehensive Irish language act. So was today's U-turn itself

part of a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein? The answer is

unambiguous. It isn't and it won't be either. The decision around

removing Liofa was disgraceful and I'm glad it is reversed. What we

need coming out of an election, that is the only way it is sorted, is an

election and an Irish language act and a strategy. People are looking

for a good governance and part of that today is the Irish language but

they want those issues are sorted once and for all. And tonight no

soft words from Paul Givan. The Irish language has been doing very

well through Stormont and the Ulster Scots have been playing catch-up for

a long time in respect of that but Sinn Fein wanted to use that

decision in order to try and extract the selection process damages they

would see it upon the DUP and I wasn't prepared to allow them to do

that. So even the dogs in the street don't know if today heralds any

future agreement. So, can the Liofa decision

help prevent a political After a day of meetings,

everyone is agreed an election Here's our Political

Correspondent Gareth Gordon. With the DUP seemingly in reverse,

Sinn Fein signalled it was full steam ahead

- destination election. Martin McGuinness led a delegation

this morning and we met with both the British and Irish governments.

We were reminded them of their responsibilities as co-guarantors of

the Good Friday Agreement in relation to delivery of equality. We

reminded them that the DUP cannot be allowed to continue to block

equality and deliver for all of our citizens. Martin made his position

very clear when he placed his resignation in the Assembly on

Monday. We now need to move down election.

They only allowed two questions and they were off.

The man whose job it is to try and save the day appeared

The reality remains, the high probability remains that we are

heading towards an election. The Irish government meant the parties

then also said it. I said on Monday in the aftermath of the publication

of the letter, by the den Deputy First Minister, but I felt an

election was likely and I say now as we move towards the end of the week

scenario is even more likely. The DUP's critic-in-chief claimed

Paul Givan's change of heart over They certainly found it at the

demand of Sinn Fein. Such is the desperation of the DUP to avoid an

election. When it comes to politics here you never quite rule anything

in or out. Right now and election is as close to a certainty as you are

going to get. Stormont's committees continued

to meet, but probably I advise matters -- members that the

next meeting of the committee scheduled to take place on Thursday

the 19th of January 2025, only joking! The laughter a touch

nervous, with good reason. Our Political Editor Mark Devenport

joins us from Stormont. So, Mark, lots of talks today,

but not much optimism? Absolutely. Last night there was a

good bit of optimism raised by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny when he

suggested the two main players the DUP and Sinn Fein might have a

direct meeting. Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein chief negotiator and

Deputy First Minister until his recent reclamation, was here at

Stormont today but we understand there are no direct talks between

him and the DUP. Instead we had this pretty downbeat assessment from both

the British and Irish governments and that bit of gallows humour that

we saw there in the Stormont committee room I think more or less

summed it up and that people think we are inevitably sliding towards an

election. So those moves by the DUP on the Irish language and on the

bedroom tax, will that be enough to prevent a breakdown? No, I think the

communities minister Paul Givan has been a very busy politician today.

He made that announcement on the Irish language and on the bedroom

tax which we will hear more about in a few minutes time from John

Campbell but no sense of that was meant as a Norwich brands that are

olive branch, but Sinn Fein think that is enough. They are still

talking about the need to go to the public on this. What happens next?

Parties will be selecting their candidates and it'll be interesting

to see for instance the Martin McGuinness confirms whether he will

or not but his name forward when Sinn Fein selects its candidates of

the weekend. Then on Monday we could have a busy day here with Sinn Fein

not nominating for the Deputy First Minister but potentially more action

on things like the bedroom tax. We will leave it there, thank you.

The BBC understands that a radical plan to tackle hospital waiting

lists has had to be shelved due to the political uncertainty.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has hit out,

saying that politicians must get back up the hill to work things out.

Meanwhile others fear delays will continue around

important decisions such as fatal foetal abnormality.

Our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports.

It's a story that shows little sign of abating.

Hospital waiting lists have dominated news headlines

and by all accounts will continue to do so.

Last November the Health Minister Michelle O'Neill said she planned to

make a major announcement in January about a detailed strategy to tackle

waiting lists. I understand that announcement was to include

substantial funding which would allow health trusts to help those

currently on waiting lists, but would also allow them to reform the

system. But with no budget for Executive now in place, those plans

to help the sick and most vulnerable have now been shelved.

In a statement to the BBC, the Health Minister said the current

situation is that there's no longer an Executive in place to agree

Michelle O'Neill said she fully recognised the concern

and frustration that long waits present for patients

and is committed to addressing excessive waiting times.

But for those working on the front line the feeling about what's

happening at Stormont is one of disappointment

Against a backdrop of too few beds and overstretched staff,

There was high expectation among colleagues given the publication of

the report, given the minister's vision of delivering together and is

occurring against it background of presumed political distorted that

they couldn't deliver meaningful change to the health service. Sadly

recent events make it a doubt but the Royal College will be seeing and

expecting them to get back up the hill and working to deliver for the

people. While Stormont's institutions

could unravel, health officials continue with their roadshows on how

services could potentially change under the Minister's

ten-year vision. But some members of

the public aren't happy. We do need certainty. This is one of

the biggest things that is putting health at risk, because we don't

know what direction it is going in. We have to as a community act

positively, work cooperatively and try to drive the agenda from within

the community up to the politicians. Those recently appointed to help

steer potential changes to how services are delivered say the mood

music isn't good. It is a 10-year process. It is

promising huge scale and radical change. It needs unity and support

from across the Executive. If that can't be achieved don't think there

will be a transformation project. Those involved in healthier further

delay around critical decisions. The first thing to say is we have been

expecting to hear soon the outcome of the FF a working report so we are

not likely to hear that because of the likelihood of the upcoming

elections. While 12 months ago there were calls

to take politics out of health, it's ironic that it's the very lack

of politics that could now Sinn Fein and DUP ministers remain

at odds on whether new legislation is required to lessen the impact

of the so-called bedroom tax. A tenant who could be affected says

the political squabble doesn't help those who are worried

about the extra cost. We'll hear more about the political

wrangling in a moment, but first Michael Fitzpatrick has

been speaking to someone Jennifer Hughes and her family have

lived at their three-bedroom terrace in South Belfast

for the past 15 years. Stormont was due to introduce a

scheme to offset the cost of the so-called bedroom tax because one of

her bedrooms is classed as a spare room. If it isn't implemented she

faces losing around ?80 a month because -- from her housing benefit.

She is critical of politicians. When they're doing their squabbling

and fighting, they're not thinking about the likes of us as people

having to pay that. We don't. We have a limited budget

and they are not saying, we will of your brew because the bedroom tax is

taken out of it. We live on it a sick outcome and now they are trying

to take more money -- Basic income. They are trying to take more money

out of that. How do they expect us to live

if we have to pay bedroom tax More than 30,000 households

could unexpectedly have to pay the so-called bedroom tax

from next month. I know a lot of people who this

would affect because you have to pay per room. I know people who are

living in a three bedroom. There is a house that was allocated to them,

so why should they have to pay for that? -- it is a house. It is not

our fault. With differing advice as to whether the special measures to

offset the tax will be introduced the uncertainty continues for

thousands. I'm joined by our Business

and Economics Editor, John Campbell. John, what's the

background to the row? The bedroom tax is a Westminster

policy. Stormont politicians do not like it's of the Executive decided

they would set up a mitigation fund to make sure nobody would lose out.

The issue has been how do we bring the mitigation fund into effect? All

week the communities minister Paul Givan has been adamant it means a

piece of legislation and it has to do the summary. This difficulty has

been that normally that sort of legislation must first be signed off

by the Executive before it goes to the MLAs. There is no Executive at

the moment so he has been saying we are in a difficult position and the

bedroom tax mitigation might not be able to be brought into effect.

Mairtin O Muilleoir the Finance Minister says that is nonsense and

that there is already legislation in place that means the mitigation fund

can be up and running. We had an exchange of memos today between the

two ministers both of them laying into positions and that they support

their most senior advisers and that they were right. We heard from

Jennifer Hughes, like many is she is worried. How worried should people

be? Tonight people can be a lot less worried. Paul Givan has said forget

that stuff about me having to take the policy to the Executive. I will

bring this directly to the Assembly and directly in front of the MLAs

and he intends to do that as early as Monday. He says it will be up to

the MLAs to vote on his regulations. It seems tonight that a solution has

been found and it'll be down to the MLAs sometime next week and maybe as

early as Monday to bring this scheme into effect. Thank you.

Later in the programme we'll hear what the Labour leader,

Jeremy Corbyn, has to say about the current

How a fraudster who sold fake fire safety glass to schools

The Police Ombudsman is to investigate why the PSNI

failed to monitor the movements of a man charged in connection

with the murder of prison officer David Black in 2012.

County Tyrone man Damien McLaughlin is due to stand trial next month,

but has not been seen by police since November, despite a bail

condition that he should report to them five days out of seven.

The police have apologised to Mr Black's family.

Police are going to reflect on this. We are going to look at our systems.

We have already commenced a review. We will look at or processes. We

will look at how the processes are implanted and if they can be

fermented better. That is a view doing as the police and I would urge

that sections of the criminal justice system take opportunity to

reflect. A woman and her eight-year-old daughter have been

tied up during a burglary at a house near Omagh. Two masked men with a

hammer entered the house just before 7pm that site. The woman was struck

in the face and the men made off with Julie. -- with jury.

A 58-year-old man has been jailed for a year for selling

fake fire safety glass to the construction industry.

It was installed at schools, shops and hospitals here

Seamus James Laverty, of Deer Park Road in Toomebridge,

pleaded guilty to 16 counts of fraud by false representation.

Our North East Reporter Sara Girvin was at Antrim Crown Court.

This is what happens when fake safety glass meets fire.

The actions of Seamus Laverty saw it fitted in 68 buildings

Those included the maternity ward of the Ulster Hospital,

schools such as Strathearn in East Belfast, as well as

churches, care homes, universities and shops.

The PSNI say the lives of many vulnerable people were put at risk.

He has put the risks of children and elderly patients in hospital and not

forgetting or colleagues in the Fire and Rescue Service. Let's be clear

about this. If a fire had started at any of these locations, we would be

looking at fatalities or serious injury.

It was uncovered when a whistle-blower,

who was a competitor of Laverty, became suspicious of his

He acquired a safety glass sample from Randalstown-based Glassworks

Ireland and discovered it was, in fact, much cheaper

He alerted police and an investigation began -

the first of its kind in Great Britain and Ireland.

The judge said Laverty had experienced extreme financial

difficulties as well as mental health problems. He said because of

this he was prepared to temper justice with mercy. He handed him a

two-year sentence. One year to be served in jail and the other on

licence. The police have moved to reassure parents at a County Down

primary school after a former cleaner was convicted of

superimposing pictures of children onto those of others being sexually

abused. Gary Carruthers was sentenced

to three years in prison. The case has raised important issues

about child protection, not least for parents of children

at the school. When 35-year-old Gary Carruthers

from Belfast was arrested, he had 30,000 indecent

images of children. In a safe at his home,

detectives also found computer discs and storage devices,

manuals on how to abuse children, But this case and the circumstances

surrounding it raise important Some parents feel they simply

weren't given enough information about the arrest and trial

of a part-time cleaner at their child's school for such

serious crimes against children. I've spoken to a parent

of a child at the school, concerned that his requests

for information over the past few At the time of Carruthers' arrest,

parents were sent a note explaining that there was a child safeguarding

issue at the school. But parents want to know this -

"Was my child involved? "And were the images Carruthers

created were ever shared As the father I spoke to put it

to me, "Is my wee girl's face on computer screens

in other countries?" Now, the PSNI say parents who've

heard nothing from them He is one of those images to

manufacture these images of abuse. He manufactured an image of the

child at the school. He also had a number of other images of children

at the school. Any child in that group, we have identified and spoken

to the child and their parents and none of them have disclose contact

if any. It should be a reassurance that parents who has prevented that

they are not in the category. There is also no suggestion that he was

involved in distribution of these images.

For the authorities, much of this case was new -

this was the first conviction here under new legislation

on possessing guides on abusing and grooming children.

It's also presented new and disturbing

Some news Justin and a child have been knocked down by a vehicle in

County Down. The road has been closed and the child has been taken

to hospital. There are no further details.

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has said he does not want to see

the return of direct rule to Northern Ireland.

In an interview with our correspondent Stephen Walker,

He asked him if he thought the first Mr Arlene Foster should have stepped

aside while an investigation into the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme

took place. It would have avoided the crisis but she didn't. It is not

up to us to decide what happens with internal political parties in

Northern Ireland. We are now faced with a situation that unless Sinn

Fein appoint a replacement, which they have categorically said they

will not, elections have to take place. Was Martin McGuinness right

to resign? He obviously felt he had no alternative otherwise he wouldn't

have done so but he did hang on for quite a long time despite his

obviously very large differences with Arlene Foster over her

behaviour. I say this, there has to be a process of talks but I guess it

is probably going to be followed by elections. We actually need an

effective government in Northern Ireland very quickly, to deal with

the question of EU negotiations, to do with the Republic. There has to

be an effective government, a new election with a smaller store month

which will be there for less diverse in its political representation is

not necessarily the best thing. If there is no Executive, does that

mean the views of the people in Northern Ireland would be heard?

They will have to be heard by the individual parties, but it is

obviously much less effective. The whole point of setting up the

Northern Ireland Assembly was to give a voice to the people of

Northern Ireland. We looking at direct rule? I hope not, I don't

want to see a return to direct rule. I don't forget that as a good option

at all. We need representative government in Northern Ireland.

Unionists think we could have direct rule for some time. I don't know

quite that it say that unless they actually want it which I hope is

that what they want full stop I want to see elected government in

Northern Ireland. Would you consider joint authority in the meantime? It

would operate only in an interim period that I am not sure that is

necessary. Surely we get through the election period as quickly as we can

if we go through the election period to ensure there is administrative

dormant in Northern Ireland but it is not a good situation, I'm not

presenting it as anything but difficult.

Rory McIlroy made a good start to his season in South Africa.

He is one shot off the lead after an opening round 67.

The world number two carded seven birdies in a five-under-par round.

This outstanding iron shot set up one of them

Darren Clarke is a further three shots back following a 70

Let's get the weather with Barra Best. The snow has caused some

disruption but others are making the most of it. We have a lot of such a

disruption in the north and west. Some treacherous driving conditions

but some had been enjoying the snow. This is not the Alps but these

parents. We had Lawrence McBride out there taking advantage of the wintry

scenario to get this geezer. -- the Sperrins. There will be more of that

to come this evening. Some others will get to enjoy some of the snow.

This was County Fermanagh today. We had a snowball fight with the family

and also the celebs out an County Antrim. But as we go through the

night with ice warnings in first with the snow, there could be some

treacherous driving conditions through the night and tomorrow

morning. That could cause some problems for rush-hour. Bear that in

mind first thing. We hold the chilly winds continuing to bring a flow of

scattered showers. As temperatures across the board fault to freezing

and below. Some treacherous driving conditions first thing tomorrow. If

rusty start for assault. Some of us have to clear the snow of the cars.

It stays bitterly cold tomorrow with the Arctic winds. They will be hit

and miss showers and not for everyone but some of us could see

one or two centimetres in some low-level areas. Two or three

Celsius beehives. Plenty of sunshine as well during the day. Showers

likely for parts of Ulster and, as well. Feeling bitter and raw from

any of us. Especially towards the north coast. You will probably want

the scarf, hat and gloves. Tomorrow evening we hold on to a few of the

showers continuing to come in with the Arctic winds. As temperatures

fall to freezing and below tomorrow night into Saturday we are likely to

seek further scattering of showers and some icy conditions forming as

well giving us some headaches on a Saturday morning. During the day on

Saturday it is an increase in temperatures. Seven or eight for

many of us. It will turn to rain although it will feel quite chilly.

Westerly winds right through the day. By Sunday a big difference.

Back up to ten or 11 Celsius. Wrap up warm tomorrow. Through the

weekend the warnings go away and it is back to rain. Thank you. The

treacherous driving conditions there. We got these pictures from

the clinching pass, often one of the most difficult routes for motorist.

The main story this evening, campaigners have welcomed a DUP

U-turn on funding for an Irish language scheme but say it doesn't

go far enough. Join me for the late news at 10:30pm. Keep in touch with

us on Facebook and Twitter. From everyone on the BBC Newsline team,

goodbye.