07/01/2017 BBC Newsline

Good afternoon.

Gerry Adams has signalled that the Deputy First Minister

could resign over Arlene Foster's refusal to stand aside

while an investigation is carried out into the renewable heat scandal.

The Sinn Fein president told a meeting in West Belfast

that the party was prepared to take action if the First Minister

didn't heed what he called the wishes of society.

There is some flash photography in this report from Louise Cullen.

Another meeting after a week of meetings.

Sinn Fein in West Belfast today discussing the party's response

to the Renewable Heat Initiative debacle.

Gerry Adams said Arlene Foster's refusal to step aside was not good

enough and he had this message for her.

If the First Minister does not take the actions that society desires

and deserves and which a sustainable process of change requires,

then Sinn Fein will bring this ongoing and totally unacceptable

state of affairs to an end.

Yesterday, the party published proposals on what it

sees as the way forward.

They include: A judge-led panel to investigate the RHI affair

which would have the power to compel witnesses to appear

and access documents.

A preliminary report would be ready in one month

followed by a final report in three.

But that's all dependent on Arlene Foster stepping aside.

After initially reiterating her refusal to do so, last night

she said with the exception of that demand, the proposals do provide

the basis for taking an investigation forward.

The Sinn Fein president also used his speech today to criticise

the DUP over the cutting of a ?50,000 Irish

language bursary scheme.

The decision on the eve of Christmas to cut funding for the Liofa

programme was a very deliberate snub to the Irish language.

It was an ignorant decision taken by an ignoramus.

The Assembly may be recalled next week to debate the crisis.

An MLA in West Belfast says a new tyranny is emerging

in the area following yet another paramilitary shooting.

In the latest incident last night a 21-year-old man

was shot in both legs.

The Secretary of State has condemned the attack.

Richard Morgan reports.

It was here at Ardmonagh Parade in Turf Lodge that the man was shot

at around 10pm last night.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

It's the latest in a number of shootings in West

Belfast in recent months.

In one of the attacks a 16-year-old boy was shot in both legs

in nearby Aitnamona Crescent.

Last night's shooting has been condemned by

neighbours and politicians.

One West Belfast MLA says he has already contacted

the Chief Constable this week about similar paramilitary-style

attacks, the scale of the threat in the area and recent drugs deaths.

The assaults on young people in particular and the deaths

because of drugs over Christmas means there's a real anxiety

that the tyranny of those who use violence on one hand and push

cocaine and heroin on the other are beginning to deeply hurt people

and young people in West Belfast.

People and the police must come together to confront both.

The Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, says

he is sickened by this attack, describing it as a cowardly

act of violence.

He's also urged anyone with information to contact police.

A number of people had to leave their homes in Magherafelt

last night following the discovery of a suspicious object.

The alert began after police called to a house in Leckagh Drive

following reports all the windows had been broken.

When they arrived they found a suspicious object,

which was examined and found to be a hoax.

Residents were allowed back into their homes after midnight.

A 25-year-old woman's been charged in connection with drugs

seizures in County Down.

She faces a series of charges including conspiracy

to supply a class B drug.

It follows the seizure of herbal cannabis in Donaghadee and Comber.

She'll appear in court in Belfast on Monday.

It was very mild if a bit grey today.

Let's get a look at the weather forecast for the rest

of the weekend with Barra Best.

Hi, there.

There's not much hope of any sunshine this weekend.

The high pressure which has brought us the cloudy conditions is set

to stay with us for at least the next 24 hours or so.

But on the upside, again tonight we have no frost as temperatures

fall to just seven or eight degrees.

Well above average and temperatures we normally see by day

at this time of year.

Through the night we will once again see pockets of mist and fog forming,

some of that will be thick in the morning, causing visibility

issues on some roads.

And some will be quite stubborn and very slow to clear as well.

Otherwise, Sunday is going to be another mainly dry day.

A mirror image practically of day.

A lot of cloud.

The winds stay light and at times the cloud will be thick enough

to give a few spots of light rain and drizzle but it's not

going to amount to very much at all.

And if you're travelling across the island tomorrow it is pretty

much the same everywhere.

Maybe the odd sunnier or brighter glimpses trying to break

through but overall a cloudy one but mild for the time

of year with temperatures of ten or even 11 degrees.

For the second part of the day for us, maybe the odd bright spell

breaking through just before nightfall but overall staying cloudy

right through the day.

And cloudy again into tomorrow night, when it will stay mild.

But rain is on the way on Sunday night and through

the early hours of Monday.

Once that clears away it will be a cooler, fresher day,

certainly towards coastal areas, where we will have some gales

and maybe even some severe gales with temperatures back to normal

at about seven or 8 degrees.

That's it for now.

BBC Newsline will be back at 6.20pm tomorrow evening.

In the meantime you can keep up-to-date with local news

on BBC Radio Ulster or on our local news online service.

From everyone on the BBC Newsline team - enjoy your evening.

We've spent a year behind the scenes

of our local hospitals and clinics...

There's a very large team of people needed to make this all work.