08/01/2017 BBC Newsline

The Executive has been criticised over the ongoing failure to resolve

The SDLP MLA Claire Hanna says the lack of action by the DUP

and Sinn Fein has turned the row into a soap opera.

For a month now, the political wrangling over the Renewable Heat

Incentive has dominated the news, and with the Assembly

still in Christmas recess and no recall likely this week,

patience is wearing thin on the Opposition benches.

The DUP and Sinn Fein are playing this out like a soap

opera and unfortunately we still have a week of that to run,

but on the 16th we'll be trying to get the most thorough and robust

We still believe Arlene Foster does not have the confidence

of the public or most of the parties and should step aside, but we need

to get on with addressing the major challenges of Brexit,

Yesterday at a meeting in West Belfast, the Sinn Fein

president hinted Martin McGuinness could resign if Arlene Foster

doesn't stand aside while the scandal is investigated.

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.

When the Assembly returns on Monday the 16th, Sinn Fein is to launch

a motion of no confidence in the Speaker, Robin Newton.

He's been criticised by MLAs for allowing the First Minister

to make a statement last month without the support

of the Deputy First Minister - but that Assembly return is a week

away, and a week can be a long time in politics.

A service supporting people appealing their benefits decisions

has been given a reprieve, after it lost its funding last week.

The Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service was set up three years ago,

with money from the City Council and the Department

It had closed last week, but is now able to continue

until March, while looking for further financial support.

The project is absolutely vital to citizens of Belfast.

The numbers, thousands of people have used it over

the past three years, and it's even more vital

The US airline United ends its service between Belfast

The last United Airlines flight arrives at Belfast International

Airport at half past nine tomorrow morning, with the last flight

to take off to New York at half past eleven.

The decision to end the only daily, long-haul air route comes

after the EU blocked an aid package worth ?9 million.

A spokesman for the airport says it's working with

Work tools worth ?500 have been stolen from a van in Lisburn.

It happened on Wednesday at the Sprucefield park

and ride car park - details have only

The van's rear windscreen and passenger window were smashed.

GAA, now and the first round of the McKenna Cup,

Ulster University Jordanstown beat a young Donegal side by 2-20 to 4-3.

Derry beat Armagh by a point, while there was also a win for Down

New Cavan boss Mattie McGleenan watched his side win 1-13 to 12

points against Tyrone, with Gerard Smith getting

I am absolutely delighted. I thought it was a great game of football,

certainly in the weather conditions I thought we showed great heart,

great character, and it's a great start for me, so to get a win, it's

a great confidence booster for me. And in hurling, Antrim

beat Westmeath by nine Now, finally let's get

a look at the weather forecast for the new week,

here's Barra with the details. We have had a relatively quiet

weekend on the weather front, but that is about to come to an abrupt

end is with make our way through tonight. It is going to turn much

more unsettled as the high pressure clears out of the way. It will be a

wet and windy start, then from midweek it is going to turn cold

enough for snow. I'll tell you more about that in a moment. As for

tonight, we do avoid any frosty conditions again. Temperatures will

stay about five or six, but through the night the wind will pick up as

we have rain coming in from the Atlantic. Some of that rain will be

quite heavy, so blustery conditions in the early hours. That rain will

last until tomorrow morning, but is gradually clears away. It will stay

unsettled with further outbreaks of rain following behind, and we are

expecting Gail Stillwell, especially towards the north coast. There will

be some sunny spells in between the showers though. The rain tonight

will affect everywhere across Britain and Ireland at some point,

and by lunchtime tomorrow it will be sitting across much of England and

Wales, she slowly making its way south and east. Northern England,

Scotland and across Ireland will have sunny spells coming and going,

but also scattered showers, and factoring in those wins it will feel

much cooler -- colder than lately. For us, we are looking at Tom

temperatures of maybe seven or 8 degrees. Tomorrow evening the wind

will continue, with scattered showers, but we are expecting a dry

day on Tuesday with plenty of cloud around, and temperatures up a little

bit. Nine or 10 degrees for many of us, and the wind should not be quite

a strong but still coming in from the West. From midweek we have

colder air coming in from the Arctic, allowing temperatures to

drop quite low. For Thursday we are expecting snow showers, not only for

high ground but also for some law levels as well. -- lower levels.

Join Jo for our next BBC Newsline bulletin at twenty five

From everyone on the BBC Newsline team, goodnight.