16/01/2017 BBC Newsline

You're watching a specially extended BBC Newsline,

An election is called as the Stormont crisis heats up.

No one should underestimate the challenge faced to the political

institutions here in Northern Ireland. And what is at stake.

I'm live at Stormont with reaction and analysis on how

Our political editor Mark Devenport will give his take on the collapse

And we'll hear live from the parties as the blame game continues.

They will take everybody for them as encouragement that they can bring

down the Northern Ireland executive whenever they don't get their own

way, whatever the cost to Northern Ireland. We have called in the Times

the behaviour of the DUP and we look forward to giving the public their

say on these matters. The political crisis means no

budget has been agreed. We'll be examining the impact that

could have on the purse strings. Also on the programme a former pupil

is charged with the manslaughter of this 13-year-old in a school

playground two years ago. And it is milder but not don't be

counting on a lot of sunshine. The 2nd of March, the date

of an Assembly election. Exactly a week after

Martin McGuinness resigned as the Deputy First Minister,

Sinn Fein failed to put forward a replacement by today's deadline

and so it was left to the Secretary of State to take the next step

and he called an election. He called on the parties to work

towards re-establishing a Government But it's clear that many problems

remain to be resolved Let's get the latest

from the Assembly. BBC Newsline's Tara

Mills is at Stormont. It's one week on from

the drama of last week And within the last hour we've had

that announcement from the Secretary Our political editor

Mark Devenport is here. What else did he have to say? He

really was left with little choice but to call an election, that is

what the law states he must do. What he basically said is that he

acknowledged this could be a divisive election campaign that he

was reminding the parties of their responsibilities, hoping that

somehow they can moderate some of the brittle exchanges which have

been predicted with a mind to piecing things together on the other

side of the election. It here what he had to say. No one should

underestimate the challenge faced to the political institutions here in

Northern Ireland and what is at stake. While it is inevitable that

debate during an election period will be intense, I would strongly

encourage the political parties to conduct this election with a view to

the future of Northern Ireland and re-establishing a partnership

government at the earliest opportunity after that poll. This is

essential to the operation of devolved government and this means

that all must remain open to dialogue. Despite all of this, there

is still some action in the assembly chamber? James Brokenshire has given

the assembly a bit longer. We thought he might bring the shutters

down this week but they are going to work on Toby end of next week and

that it had an effect on things here today. We thought they would make at

breakneck decision on Simon Hamilton 's plan but in the last little

while, they have adjourned that and said they will come back to that

next week although not because there were some explosive allegations made

by the former minister Jonathan Bell who once again highlighted what he

claims is the role of DUP advisers in relation to this scheme. Now they

are getting onto the equally fractious manner of debating a

no-confidence motion brought by Sinn Fein in the speaker, Robin Newton,

over his handling of last months because assembly session here. What

about dates, but do-gooders need to be an mind? If you want to take part

in this snap election, if you are not put off by this negativity, you

should remember February 14, Valentine's Day but in relation to

our not particularly lovey-dovey election, it is also the deadline

for voters to register. There is an earlier deadline if you want a

postal or proxy vote of February ten but the all-important date is March

two is voting day and after that, we have a three-week period and that is

when the government will have their work cut out to try and put Humpty

Dumpty back together again and tried to restore devolution here.

After the surprises of last week today we had a better idea of where

this was going with Sinn Fein not re-nominating a candidate

So how did the Fresh Start between Sinn Fein and the DUP

Our political correspondent Enda McClafferty charts

We have had political break-ups at Stormont before

Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness's relationship has been

in meltdown for months and today their power-sharing pact was reduced

They even struggled to face each other across the chamber floor.

This is the moment their separation was rubber-stamped.

One was prepared to stay and the other wanted out.

I am nominating Arlene Foster to be the First Minister. It has her

rightful position. I am not alone because the DUP says that, but

because 200,000 people in the country see it. We, as a DUP, we

will decide who the leader of our party is. Not someone else sitting

in this chamber. Today it Sinn Fein will not be nominated for the

position of Deputy First Minister. Sinn Fein has honoured all

agreements, we have striven to make these institutions work. Martin

McGuinness has acted at all times with integrity, with dignity and

with respect. Moments later Martin McGuinness left

the chamber, leaving many to wonder if he had played his

last political hand. While Arlene Foster faced up

to her next challenge, blaming Sinn Fein for sending voters

back to the polls. They have forced an election that

risks Northern Ireland 's future and it stability and since nobody apart

from themselves. They will take every vote for them as an

encouragement that they can bring down the Northern Ireland executive

whenever they don't get their own way up the cost to Northern Ireland,

Big Yin and again and again and again. Today we have called time on

the arrogance of the DUP and their behaviour in these institutions. We

have done so because we can no longer accept how these institutions

will be treated with contempt and continue today to be treated with

contempt by the DUP which in turn treats the public with contempt. For

our part, Sinn Fein and barking McGuinness have stretched ourselves

to the limits to try and keep these institutions working. They have been

let down by the did behaviour of the big DUP, in the Jewish and of Tory

policies and inaction of the Irish front.

In fact Martin McGuinness phoned the Prime Minister Theresa May this

morning to let her know how much he felt let down by the government.

Though the clock is now ticking, the speaker Robin Newton

will still face a vote of no confidence in the

He will survive as his party, the DUP, is

planning to use a petition of concern to keep him in office.

The class of 20 02 new all about stop start politics but this is

going to be a new experience for those MLAs bathing Stormont this

week not knowing when or if they might return. As they know,

collapsing the institutions is the easy part, bringing them back and

rebuilding trust is the real challenge and that is the test

awaiting our politicians on the other side of the election. Let's

hear it now from the DUP and Sinn Fein. What can you tell us? We have

not made the motion because the DUP have introduced apparition of

concern and I take it the 11th hour of this assembly, the introduction

of this shows that the DUP have not learned anything from the last six

weeks, they have not woken to the reality that their arrogance of the

denial of democratic rights of others in this chamber and society

is not acceptable so we have decided not to move the motion this evening

and we will not involve ourselves in a debate which is effectively

blocked. Does that achieve anything? Our views on the speaker have not

changed, our views on the DUP have not changed but it does show that we

will not be a ourselves to be drawn in to meeting with this debate in

the assembly and after the elections we will not a ourselves to be drawn

into meaningless discussions with parties who are not serious about

equality or change or sharing the spread of the island with the rest

of the people. If Robin Newton off the hook for now? What this is about

is Sinn Fein using all of these issues to distract from the core

agenda that they have and they have outlined that repeatedly now around

equality, the Trojan horse to break unionism. They feel they can use RHI

now as a reason to go to the country because they believe that will

inflict damage. Is it not a good reason given the amount of money

involved? I want to get to the truth of that, I want an inquiry and

should be no hiding place for anybody and Arlene Foster has made

that clear but they are using that to try and undo what happened only

eight months ago when our party came back with over 200,000 boats and key

Republican demands that they are insisting upon, they have not

delivered. Everybody needs to respect each other's mandates but

that cuts both ways. Sinn Fein are ticking down these institutions

because they want to break unionism and we're going out into an election

that will ultimately lead to negotiations and they want to have

rolled over unionism and this party will be putting forward a strong

team, recognising that we are beer being tested as never before by

Republicans and we will continue to hold our ground. There will be a

different strategy this time, it will not be team Arlene? Arlene

Foster is leading our party into these elections. She was voted in as

the First Minister because that is what the public voted for. Will it

be the same this time the flag is whimsical and had an election, Sinn

Fein are using the ballot box strategy to continue to pursue their

key Republican objectives and we will continue to use the ballot box

to get a mandate to represent the people who elect us so we will put

people first, our country first, Sinn Fein are putting party first to

pursue their key goals. Do you want give them be to get up and running

again? We do, we want a functioning, working assembly vote on the

foundations of the Good Friday agreement on the other agreements we

have worked out with the other parties and the British and Irish

Lions a month. There is a responsibility on us all to get

these institutions up and running again but they have to be built on a

firmer foundation on an agreement. You don't wait ten years to

implement parts of the agreement or make boasts about blocking of the

agreement. The agreement. There is a responsibility in local parties but

also in the British government in relation to legacy issues. James

Brokenshire and the British government are also part of the

problem. You said in November that you will not deserve the electorate,

you will not leave the electorate with a long period of direct rule,

only three months ago? We are not deserting the electorate. You have

real concerns you will get agreement with your partners in government?

Everyone has commented on this. It is now over to the electorate to

make decisions about the future of this society. What are they putting

for? They are voting for accountability, ensuring the

corruption, whether alleged or other ways, is held to account. Are they

voting for a Stormont assembly or direct rule? They are voting for the

working institutions of the Good Friday agreement but the emphasis is

on working. Joint authority, is that possible to? I know that what Mike

Nesbitt has said but if you vote for him,, that is not our position. Sinn

Fein are clear on what they are trying to do, they are walking away

from this difficulty for political advantage when they cost us ?174

million over welfare reform, we won't go away -- we didn't walk

away. They are using RHI is a distraction from the core agenda

they have. That is to weaken unionism and the public know what

that is about. Is he seriously suggesting that Unionist viewers

watching this tonight are going to accept the fact that the DUP put

together a package which is costing the taxpayer four million ? the

leader of the party is refusing to step aside without prejudice and

allow and encourage take place? Don't believe that is what unionism

or nationalism is about. The final point from you. Remarkably, Sinn

Fein think they know what Unionists believe that reminds me of a story

in the Bible about the man who built the gallows for Mordechai believing

that which lead to their downfall. They know the plot they are trying

to conspire against the DUP and to weaken unionism and they will rally

around the calls that we will go to the country for. What about the

analysis that you don't want Stormont on running again? It is the

agreements that we have signed up to in the last ten years and that is

working, functioning as it uses of the Good Friday agreement but all

the parties have to deliver and that includes the British and are

government 's and the DUP. We believe we can govern ourselves

better than anyone else. But we cannot govern ourselves with

corruption at the heart. Alleged corruption? Alleged financial

corruption but certainly political corruption in the last couple of

years so do we want working instructions? Of course but they can

only work on the basis of the agreement upon which they were

built. When Sinn Fein don't get their way, the President has now

been set, they will bring the institutions down because they will

not respect democratic will of the people in order to force the agenda

that they have so the public have a clear choice, do they reward Sinn

Fein 's bad behaviour or do they respect the results that happened

only eight months ago was like we have put forward a strong case to

the public because Sinn Fein want to break us and the unionist people

know that and we will be resolute in the face of it. I share the concerns

around RHI, that is why we are trying to do with it. Plenty of time

over the next few weeks to have an election campaign. Let's hear from

the opposition parties now. Danny Kennedy, is that the case that a

vote for the UUP will lead to joint authority?

Absolutely not. We're made it abundantly clear that we would not

support any prospect of joint authority. Let me say, this is a

deeply depressing day that the people of Northern Ireland and for

the electorate who are watching this and the spectacle of the collapse of

the political institutions that have been so hard-fought four and so much

demanded. But you walked away from those institutions. The sole

responsibility for that breakdown as a collective failure, a DUP and Sinn

Fein failure of working cohesively together. Added that, unacceptable

manner in which an R a H I scheme has been allowed to continue. It is

time for the electorate to give its verdict on RHI and the appalling

loss of potential monies to the Northern Ireland executive. It is

time now for change any Ulster Unionist Party will fight a

constructive election campaign seeking change. This is a good

opportunity the body, but do you think you have a different methods

of the one Sinn Fein is putting out? A very different message. It is very

worrying that we are now clearly adding to to election but also

allowing it to collapse. I genuinely want to get these institutions up

and running again. Especially people vote for the same old. If they vote

for the DUP amateur volley Sinn Fein, they know what they're going

to get. They broke the ground, then we can work together. Can you

imagine a coalition again? The old party without a 2-party system? It

is not about seeds France. It is about delivery. -- seats for us. We

told them that they couldn't deliver. We told the more the things

that Sinn Fein are now saying they are all annoyed about. Sinn Fein did

listen and the DUP didn't listen. It only took seven months of proper

accountability for this Government to collapse, that tells you

everything you need to know. When it comes the next step then, can you

imagine a situation when we will have this act together and have The

Assembly running again? That is done to the public. They have an

opportunity to make decisions to who want the -- to who they want to send

back to The Assembly. We did not bring them down. We have been

consistent in our support for these institutions. When talking about

plan B what should happen next, the only thing that the public want is

that these institutions should work. We want people who will be

transparent and accountable and who are enthusiastic about taking

responsibility and taking power and do the work on behalf of the people

who do electors. Eight months is a disgrace for a Government to fall

apart and to see people so gleefully electioneering as they have been

this afternoon when has been a huge collapse under huge uncertainty

about the future of Northern Ireland I think is disgraceful. We will be

back a bit later in the programme with the latest on the RHI

legislation debate. The current Assembly

comes to an early end without agreeing a budget for start

of the new financial year in April. A senior civil servant has warned

that could lead to a huge range of difficulties,

particularly for the health service. Our Economics and Business Editor

John Campbell is here. No budget in place,

no likelihood of one What happens is what the senior

civil servant is trying to spell out to MLA today, mist or Stirling

struck an optimistic note saying that there will be election which

will give a few weeks to potentially put an executive back together again

and agree a budget just in time before the start of the financial

year in April. That means he is a bit more optimistic than many people

around Stormont. An executive can't be put together, then there will be

enormous powers for him. On the 29th of March, we will have access to 75%

of this year's budget. Immediately on hand, public services will

continue to operate even if there is a Government no budget agreed. What

does that mean for the running of the departments? The normal business

of Stormont? Even though mist or Stirling was people he said it was a

very unsatisfactory situation. He precisely set up there with the

Government in place for a prolonged period of time, part a couple of

months, that would pose a huge range of difficult as in a wide range of

areas. They gave it wide a specific example which was the hill fog

service. In other words, the Department of Health is a huge

department and has half of the budget. They need to have certainty

at the start of the year so they can plan the certainties. If there is no

budget in place, that will cause difficulties to services majority

under pressure. And there's also a big

issue with rates bills, Mist or Stirling will get access to

a huge range of powers. Setting rates is one of those. It is a piece

of legislation which allows people to levy tax on business and

households. If there is no power to collect those raids, then what

happens? There is contingency ban in place, usually the rates are

collected over a ten month period, so could be possible than rather

gaining your rates in April, it could be made or June and you're

paying the ten months after that. That is the initial contingency

plan. If there was no money coming in, what are the councils do? Mr

Stirling said he could make money available to them for at least a

couple of months. He was emphasising that can only be a very short-term

solution, it if this runs on much more Cejudo or early July, there

will be a relief budget crunch. When he was hinting at if there is no

executive or budget in place at the end of July, then a minister would

have two step in and impose a budget to avoid a complete collapse of the

budget. The MLAs have been

debating the bedroom tax As Mark Davenport was saying

earlier, the renewable eat plan was -- eat plan was just in time to the

severed comeback next week and scrutinise that properly. You could

still get a financial resolution before the election. The bedroom

tax, the regulations have gone through, so that means the

mitigation is in place for the bedroom tax. So, people who feared

they might lose out, they will not. That has been sorted.

Two years after the death of a 13-year-old Fermanagh boy

following a playground incident, a former pupil at his school

has appeared in court charged with manslaughter.

Our South West reporter Julian Fowler was at the hearing

Oisin McGrath died four days after an incident at this college in

Francis Maude Dermot was in the sixth form at the

The 19-year-old is accused of unlawful killing.

The family were in court and the defence

asked to express continuing sympathy to them, saying that what had

happened had devastated two families.

The solicitor said that Francis would carry

the memory and effect of what

happened in the schoolyard that day with him for the rest of his life.

He said that he was instructed to minimise the pain the justice

process would have for the McGrath family.

Sentiments which the judge said were laudable in an

extremely difficult set of circumstances.

Francis Maude Dermot confirmed he understood the charge

and when asked if he had anything to

He was released on bail for ?500 and will appear in

Efforts to stop the closure of a GP practice in Portadown have failed.

A contractor withdrew from the process.

Bannview practice faced closure after its last

Our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports.

At one time there were four full-time GPs working from this

Portadown practice caring for around 5,200 men, women and children.

the years as GPs retired, they were not replaced.

Despite the warning signs, after Christmas the last

remaining GP resigned saying she could no longer cope with the

Nearby practices told the BBC they were too overstretched

and unable to take on the patients and instead it was left in the hands

of the Health and Social Care Board to fix.

While a contract has been found, late this afternoon it emerged

that that GP has now withdrawn from the contract.

the health minister said: the move was extremely

disappointing and that she has called for an urgent meeting with

the Health and Social Care Board to ensure patients receive high-quality

The statement added that the health board will continue

to manage the practice until a new contractor is appointed.

It is not ideal that locums could be in charge

Patients those who are older often require someone who knows their

Unless problems are addressed, the BMA is warning this

Nearly 400 people were arrested for drink-driving in

Northern Ireland over Christmas, that's a slight fall on last year.

The police say warned hundreds of others

who tested positive for alcohol but were within the legal limit.

But today a senior police officer said many people are still ignoring

They will face fines, they will face disqualifications, some of them may

even lose their jobs and will not be able to travel and will be looking

at increased insurance bills. Hopefully it will be a stain for

people who know them socially, as well.

Between the end of November and the start of this

month, the police tested nearly 11,000 drivers.

That's more than twice as many as last year.

Of these, 383 were found to be over the alcohol limit, a marginal

In addition to the arrests, nearly 300 others received warnings

after testing positive for alcohol but within the legal limit.

The youngest offender this year was 17 years of age and the eldest 80.

The spam is right across the country and right across ages. Some

ridiculously high reading to people should be having medical digital to

-- medical difficulties let alone getting behind the wheel of a

vehicle. Police say anyone

who's drank even a small amount of alcohol should

never consider driving. A west Belfast man who denies

being Britain's former top spy inside the IRA is now facing

at least 20 separate lawsuits. The scale of litigation against

Freddie Scappaticci was revealed Writs have been issued

in a series of cases involving claims of kidnapping

and interrogating Mr Scappaticci left Nothern Ireland

in 2003 after being identified The police have asked for the civil

hearings to be delayed for two years because of an ongoing

criminal investigation. A man who sexually abused

an altarboy at the Clonard Novena in Belfast was spared

a jail sentence after Martin Cassidy was placed

on Probation for three years after he admitted abusing

the altarboy in 1988. Belfast Crown Court

was told that the 67-year old from Orchard Mews in Befast

was volunteering at the Novena at the request of his brother,

who at the time was a priest. We are on a bit longer this evening

because of the events at Stormont on the announcement of an assembly

election on the 2nd of March. We also have an extended late news at

half past ten tonight. Back to what has been happening at The Assembly

where they have been discussing the renewable heat incentive scheme. The

former enterprise Minister at the DUP has been addressing MLAs. This

is what he has to say. I believe these matters can be investigated in

this week, alongside the very first piece of information given to me in

the ministerial office. By the DUP, party officer appointed special

adviser Timothy Kearns that you will not be allowed to reduce the tariff

on the scheme because Timothy Johnson special adviser to the First

Minister and John Robertson special adviser to the DUP and now special

adviser to the column Minister has such interest in the poultry

industry, it is not been allowed on the agenda. I have the records in

many formats. This party has suspended me for telling the truth

while I give a First Minister and the deputy leader and the chairman

of the party all the information about this. People who are sitting

beside and behind them have much more serious offences. The special

adviser to the First Minister, Timothy Johnson, said, I have no

family connections to the poultry industry and I have no connection to

the RHI scheme, these are unsubstantiated allegations. I have

two brothers nor in the poultry industry and they have no connection

to the scheme. John Robinson the former DUP director to

communications now special adviser to the economy Minister Simon

Hamilton said I have no personal interest in the poultry industry,

two of my brothers are poultry farmers, but they have no

connections to RHI. Now sport, Stephen Watson's

here with news of new faces Ulster have announced two

new player signings today. The South African international back

row Arno Botha and the Connacht scrum-half John Cooney both

will join the province on two-year In the immediate future, Ulster have

just their Pro12 campaign to focus on after they were knocked out

of Europe yesterday And the European adventure ends the

Ulster, for the third season in a row, the side have failed to qualify

for the quarterfinal stages of the northern hemisphere's premier

competition. They said their intentions out early. And despite

some flashes of poised power and precision from this New Zealander,

the English premiership side turned the screw in the second half,

dominating territory and possession, citing their way through the Ulster

defence. Ulster 's European theatre was sealed when Jackson was yellow

carded in the closing minutes for a deliberate knock-on with the referee

awarding a penalty try, another defeat for Ulster, there is in the

last 12 games. Rory McIlroy has been forced to withdraw from the Abu

Dhabi championship after tests revealed he has sustained a rib

injury. He picked up the injury in South Africa last week. He thought

he had a back injury played through the pain yesterday only to lose

against Graeme storm. He had started the day three shots behind him but

five birdies in a final round of 68 to get to three extra holes before

the Englishman prevailed. Rory McIlroy will now commence

revalidation and will return to golf when he is fully recovered from that

stress fracture. Finally, snooker and Mark Allen has

beaten John Higgins 6-5 in the first round of the Masters in London. It

was quite a game today. That's the sport.

police in Craigavon have been kicking up a storm over a recent

Officers there issued a wanted posted for BBC

Weather Presenter Barra Best at the weekend - saying he had

destroyed the dreams of children and cops.

They even offered a reward of two doughnuts for his capture!

We've not been able to find him today, but Angie might be

able to shine some light on his whereabouts.

No more snow any more but it has turned milder. It looks as though

we're in for quite a settled and quiet week compared to last week

because we have high pressure in charge apart from some this evening.

Not a lot of rain in the forecast and maybe one or two bright spells

but generally a lot of cloud and things will cool down again later in

the week. Today it was mild and plenty of cloud. Some breaks towards

the East so in Newcastle we had the odd bit of blue sky. The mist

lifting and even some sunshine on the top of the lead honoured with

temperatures of 80 degrees there today. That cloud has been piling in

again as the weather front approaches. It is bringing in rain

throughout edge of Northern Ireland throughout the course of this

evening. It clears the way and we are left with a dry night, quite

misty but frost free. Those of around 7 degrees. Tomorrow the odd

spot of drizzle but a lot of dry weather. A lot of cloud as well and

it is likely to be quite a dull and grey start but hopefully as we go

through the day, we will see that lifting off the hills. That is when

we might get the odd ride a spell but we are looking at more cloud

than sunshine but looking pretty mild with temperatures of ten or 11

degrees. We hold onto that mild area into tomorrow night with still a lot

of cloud and dry weather around. Temperatures of around five or 6

degrees. Then on Wednesday, apart from the odd spot of just all, it is

looking miles. That trend continues through the rest of the week, a few

bright spells but after the cloudy and mainly dry.

The MLAs are thinking about the election but they have fought to get

through before that. They have put off until next week any discussion

of that eating plan, the plan from Simon Hamilton to recover some of

the potential losses of the renewable heating scheme, but won't

happen until next week. But they got onto this business of no confidence

in the assembly Speaker Robin Uden. That was a Sinn Fein motion. Then

they said because the DUP had put down their veto, they were going to

pull it but right now, we in a short adjournment, the MLAs are returning

at 7:30 as there is debate as whether it has gone past the point

of return. We heard from Sinn Fein in the DUP and it was quite heated.

Have had these statements from James Brokenshire and also from the Irish

Foreign Minister that they want these parties to be respectful of

each other in this election campaign. I think essentially that

we will have a tough election campaign. We have a Valentines day

registration date and that will be the only lovely Debbie thing about

this campaign. We will have all the latest on a bit

bulletin at 10:30. That was newsline on the day and election was cold by

the 2nd of March. Power sharing collapsed over a row over the RHI

which could cause tax payers nearly half ?1 billion.