m 1 "if. r w qfit‘fif' police child protection officer says paedophiles that pose no physical risk to children shouldn't be prosecuted, so let's go to belfast and that debate in the run—up to the stormont elections. the parties are looking for your vote in the assembly election. welcome to the northern ireland leaders‘ debate. applause good evening. little did we think we would be back here so soon but this second election has been brought

about by a power—sharing coalition. it is about corruption and arrogance, says sinn fein. it is about republican demands say the democratic unionists. the other main players invoke conversation on every place. colum eastwood, sinn fein leader michelle o'neill, the leader of the democratic unionist party, eileen foster, mike nesbitt of the ulster unionists and for the alliance party, naomi long. the questions come from our studio audience, most of them party supporters who have made room for supporters who have made room for supporters who have yet mate —— made up supporters who have yet mate —— made up their mind. it is a pleasure to welcome viewers across the uk on the bbc news channel. if you would like tojoin the discussion, bbc news channel. if you would like to join the discussion, you bbc news channel. if you would like tojoin the discussion, you can tweet. letters get stuck in. our first question comes from a quality a nalyst

first question comes from a quality analyst in a software company. from the rhi scandal, what has been the most important lesson you have learnt? it is a green energy scheme similarto learnt? it is a green energy scheme similar to one learnt? it is a green energy scheme similarto one run learnt? it is a green energy scheme similar to one run in the uk but with one significant difference. there was no cap put on the money universities could make from their investment. that every pound that you spent on renewable energy, you get £1 60 back to the next 20 years. this is potentially going to cost the northern ireland assembly half £1 billion. that is the rhi scandal. eileen foster, what have we learned from this? it is not going to cost the northern ireland taxpayer potentially or otherwise £500,000 —— £500 million because the reality is there cost controls in place by the assembly. there is also a public set up assembly. there is also a public set up which will get to the truth and

the facts. —— inquiry. all we have had his political smears, numerous allegations, plenty of rumours but we have been devoid of facts. i am pleased the public inquiry has been set up and we can get those facts. there has been lack —— there has been lots of facts and this scheme was allowed to go the way it did to stop people were in those last few weeks before the cab was put on, before the rates were changed, there was a spike in people. people thought this was a really good deal. it was far too good a deal, wasn't it? it will get to the bottom of all that that's. i called for an independent inquiry. if we had the benefit of hindsight when the scheme was set up, this wouldn't have happened. what is important is...

what we need to do is to earn how the inquiry to run its course. you didn't mention it at the launch of your party manifesto when it is what so your party manifesto when it is what so many people have been talking about for the past few months. you didn't deem it worthy of a mention. this election has been brought about by lots of other things and the rhi has been the excuse but it has not been the cause of this election. the cause is the wish of sinn fein to implement their republican agenda on northern ireland and what we want to see at the election is a clear choice and that choice is between the unionist party and sinn fein.m is such a significant issue for so many people. it is not the cause of the election. you didn't mention it at all. the public inquiry will deal

with those matters. the people of northern ireland need to get to the bottom of this. i share their frustration and anger but we need some facts instead of their political insinuations which have been devoid of facts. michelle o'neill, been devoid of facts. michelle 0'neill, you had 58 workshops on the incentive. these workshops stressed the financial benefits. have you got clea n the financial benefits. have you got clean hands in all of this?” the financial benefits. have you got clean hands in all of this? i do and i don't know where arlene has been living but this is election is about the scandal. it is about many other things. it is about rhi, arrogance, how the dup has handled the issue, the fact that she couldn't be humbled to accept she has made a mistake. we will get to the bottom of it but there are things we know to be fact full and true and that is the fact that arlene did strip out

the fact that arlene did strip out the cost controls. the dp got their —— have got this under control. they haven't. what about your department's department's involvement in it? 58 workshops saying it is a fantastic scheme, get on it. the workshops were about renewable energy and it promoted a scheme which we thought was a good scheme. once my party knew about it, action was taken and the scheme was shut down. so you didn't know any of the details from 2010 onwards? the dup, and we have heard from within the dup, that the dup were withholding information. what lessons could you learn? martin

mcguinness was aware of the scheme. that is months before the last assembly election. why was this not an issue at the last assembly election? we have heard michelle saying that the dup wanted to keep the scheme open. it was the dup that proposed this closure of the scheme. she is getting herfacts proposed this closure of the scheme. she is getting her facts wrong. what lessons a re she is getting her facts wrong. what lessons are to be learned? eileen -- arlene doesn't seem to have learned any lessons. it is a disgrace in the way we have got to this situation. what arlene did issues change the scheme to take out the cost controls and that has to be remembered. we have a public inquiry and arlene and sinn fein proposed a public inquiry. we didn't vote to keep this scheme open. it had cost controls in it.

your party said we were shameful for closing it down. i agree with arlene on one thing. sinn fein new if the la st on one thing. sinn fein new if the last january or before. we were down to an election and they didn't tell the public the full extent of the black hole in their finances. they didn't tell us. we were down to a negotiation. we were able to make —— meet everyone apart from one. the finance department wouldn't let us meet. there was a request. there was a request to meet every secretary and they wouldn't let us. now we know why. there is a black hole in the public finances and we got here because of arrogance, mismanagement and what we have to do is learn the lessons. one of the first things we need to do is kerber the number of special advisers that we have. there

are far too many for a place of this size. that would be a good start and solve the problems we have. naomi long, lessons to be learned?“ solve the problems we have. naomi long, lessons to be learned? if you elect people false promise that they would go into the executive to defend nationalism, they might be fit to run a government. what they are not fighting for in this election is the basis of their ability, confidence and scrutiny of what is going on. i think it is fairly clear. we need to elect people who we believe can deliver. you have to let people who are going to deliver good government and i believe there are people here standing but in other parties who are capable and confident to deliver good government. that should be the basis on what we make decisions and not a fight between unionism and nationalism. it relates to rhi because what we have heard of the

last election was we needed a strong leader of an unionism. that presided over chaos within the scheme. resided in terms of how it was handled. this is chaos with hindsight. it is chaos in the here now. when this was raised as part of the executive issues coming over the last number of months, it could've been handled better. it could have been handled better. it could have been handled better. it could have been handled differently and could have been handled if people have been able to work through those issues. they failed to do that. the basis on which people seek election is not some fitness to govern, it has been on trying to frighten people. you vote in that basis and you may not get the best people. this is costing £85,000 a day. some

controls have been introduced. people borrowed significant money to buy the kit, the new boilers and the banks were in receipt of a letter from mrs foster saying this is a good thing. they were saying the ta riffs good thing. they were saying the tariffs were grandfathers and it would not be changed under any circumstances. there is a huge problem there. we need an end to ten yea rs of problem there. we need an end to ten years of government marked by incompetence, cronyism and a strong width of corruption. it is time for change. michelle, even as late as february of last year, conor murphy said he wanted the rha scheme kept open fired two more weeks. that was after the limits have been put on

and the tariff had been established. there was an election looming and still sinn fein were supporting this scheme. as soon as i became aware, so scheme. as soon as i became aware, so did a. it was dealt with emergency procedures. we voted to shut the scheme down within ten days. why didn't you tell the public about it? they voted to keep it over and the two more weeks to allow them chance to deal with their backlog. the other parties voted to keep the scheme open. it is a different scheme. the public purse was committed. there was £500 million they wanted to keep going. you didn't come out and say this was a scandal and we were going to bring northern ireland down over this.

conor murphy brought it to the controller. why in december is the issue that you brought down the assembly? johnny bellamy made a claim and made a public appearance to tell the world that the dup were up to tell the world that the dup were up to their necks in hiding the floors of the scheme, that they knew about it. martin mcguinness had to act. martin mcguinness shut the scheme down. they responded to the public. the dup cannot recognise they did something wrong. arrogance,

disrespect and content.” something wrong. arrogance, disrespect and content. i have to deal with corruption as well. there has been plenty of allegations. plenty of allegations. would it have not been better to have had the public inquiry first and then had the election? then we would have had the election? then we would have had the full tax everybody to make a judgment. instead, what we have is political manoeuvring by sinn fein. what about respect, michelle? what we need to do is to have... what about respect for the public?|j we need to do is to have... what about respect for the public? i may be the target but it is the people of northern ireland who are the victims in this. we have the health service with waiting lists and the

health minister seems to be content. i accept all the leaders need to know what they can. what i can't understand is how the government members who have the inside track, they don't communicate with each other about this. they have not informed each other. it is hidden by them. here we are having an election on the basis of this again. when this happened, it went through as a scheme that came to one department and there was no executive sign off. they became a scheme that affected the finances. it was taken through by the emergency procedure. 0ther collea g u es by the emergency procedure. 0ther colleagues who sat on the executive we re colleagues who sat on the executive were not informed of how bad the scheme was. they were like two in the chamber because people stood up at the time when the scheme was

closing and said it was a runaway success. instead it was a cabinet —— catastrophic failure. if you don't share the full facts, you can't start after the event. there was a huge take—up of a very good scheme. it wasn't a success in a sense that it wasn't delivering what people wanted. i don't think anybody believes it was good for the environment. people were having boilers running with the windows open 24/ seven. all of those things we re open 24/ seven. all of those things were flawed within the scheme but the point of this is it was not brought to the executive. it was brought to the executive. it was brought to the floor of the assembly and scrutinised. it is wrong to say this. i signed for a mortgage and numberof this. i signed for a mortgage and number of years ago and have paid it

off. i signed to pay a certain amount of money over a certain period of time. i don't recall walking into the bank and saying i could change my mind. i can't understand how the government can sign up on the dotted line, take out, —— contract with the government ona out, —— contract with the government on a scheme that was backed and we had letters to the lenders. now it is going to be scrapped and you say you will get less money. the question was what have you learned from the scheme and is a clear that arlene foster has learned nothing? heranswer arlene foster has learned nothing? her answer was not about what she has learned, she straight went to deflect and qualified the fax and cost controls. so facts aren't important? we should have had the fact—finding. what we have had is the verdict. you wouldn't stand aside for a public inquiry? yes, i

wouldn't stand aside. it was put there for a reason. why i didn't stand aside as i wanted to fix it and everybody knows that. i wanted to fix the problem and when you are a politician, you should try and fix theissues a politician, you should try and fix the issues in front of you instead of walking away which is what i was trying to do. can i ask. the sdlp, was it not the chairperson of that committee that oversaw that? was it not them? i sit on committees and i know how committees work. surely this could have been brought to them sooner. this could have been brought to them sooner. any committee can only work on the information that they get. it is clear that nobody in this audience, nobody watching the show knew anything about the black hole in the public finances at the last election. it was kept away from

other parties on u two parties from la st other parties on u two parties from last february onwards. the dup kept this to themselves and they went into an election and told nobody. they denied opposition parties and access to the permanent sector of the finance department. now we all know why. our second question comes from thomas who is an electrical designer. is the first election when there would be significant cross community transfer votes? you can vote for as many candidates as you like in descending order will stop mike nesbitt said he would be voting outside the tribe and he will vote in his constituency. any regrets?”

am wanting to vote auster unionists and men of any candidate that you trust. —— ulster unionists. i do think this is the first election in the 96 year history of northern ireland where it will be possible and feasible for you, the voters, to sack your government and give a turn to the opposition. there hasn't been an opposition since devolution returned in 1998. previously with the old role, the unionists always won. we are not going back there but it is an opportunity to say, i am going to vote, not orange, not green, but as a referendum and on the rha scandal —— rh iced gamble. if you... you

the rha scandal —— rh iced gamble. if you. .. you went on a solo run. the rha scandal —— rh iced gamble. if you... you went on a solo run. if you liked what they have done, you will give them another mandate. your own party doesn't like what you said. did you not consult with them before you went on this? there is nothing consistent. tanning —— danny saying he was to go down that road. trust the people in your local community. danny knows his local community. danny knows his local community. it will be hypocritical of me to vote for the former speaker in my constituency given the criticism i levelled at him. i'm do not withdraw a single word. you didn't discuss it with anyone. leadership evolves leading and i am leading. consultation as well. people know where i stand and what i am encouraging people to do. i am

focused on the fact that this is an opportunity to bring about change away from two parties whose share space and responsibility because the law says they have to. the two parties who will form a partnership of the willing and that would be transformational from of the willing and that would be transformationalfrom northern ireland's political fortunes. some thought you were less than gracious in your response to mike, especially since 11% of sdlp transfers in the last election came from ulster unionists. they are well ahead of us here. i have said that people should vote the change. they should transfer the change. transferred to candidates that are willing to make this work. the response from some people was unfortunate. those people are behind what the people of northern ireland. people are voting

and transferring across community. i am an irish nationalists. i won't be any less ofan am an irish nationalists. i won't be any less of an irish nationalists on my transfer. it doesn't affect my nationalism. it is the politics that we need to be embracing. nationalists and unionists have to work together. it is about time we embrace that an time we took our own positions and worked out how we can incorporate and partner up to make northern ireland work. if we vote machine —— sinn fein amid dup, orwe can see is red lines and direct rule. if we want to see power—sharing, we should be prepared to make this thing work. you have said it is dangerous to transfer out of your tribe. this election will be very close. all of the polls are saying it today. it will be neck and neck between sinn fein and the dup.

that being the case, it is dangerous because what you're going to end up for if you vote for the ulster unionist party and vote for the sdlp, more nationalists are coming into the assembly. i make no apology for the fact i want to see the maximum number of unionists in the assembly. i am a unionist first and foremost. you don't want to see their maximum number of nationalists? this is not about a border poll. it is about making this place work. orange unionists is so strong and she is putting out leaflets with a dark picture of gerry adams on it. she is talking about him more than anything else. people are fed up with the way people are saying women are not voting. you didn't mention -- you

did say sinn fein was 32 times. you mentioned it 32 times. thank you for bringing that up. i couldn't hear what you are saying. i said thank you for mentioning that. you will have more nationalists if you transfer. that is the reality. nobody, no commentator, no serious commentator is saying that a vote for my —— if you vote for mike, you will get colum. they got martin mcguinness and he wrote your resignation letter. where would you transfer to?m

won't be the first election party the alliance party have fought. we have fought every election on that basis. you got 11% of all transfers in 2016. we draw people who would inspire to northern ireland. the question was as is the first election that will be fought on that basis? no, not forthe election that will be fought on that basis? no, not for the alliance party. it will not be the first election and i'm glad that other parties are talking about cooperating on the basis of doing so voluntarily. rather than doing it and hold them knows. what matters is you transfer to someone you believe as progressive as the alliance party, who wants to build a liberal society and is willing after the election because this is what really counts. to make the assembly work for people in northern ireland. on that basis we tell our people to

vote alliance macro first amp of other candidates. does it matter if sinn fein becomes the largest party in the assembly? no one has told us what difference it makes. it is amazing. the dup, at their conference, they are about confident unionists. every election they have never been in such dire straits. it's about time they stop having politics of fear and owned up to the reality that they have nothing else to offer. people are tired of trying to offer. people are tired of trying to be pulled back into the ditch is over this. they want to move forward and vote on the basis of vision. they want to vote on the basis of something confident and constructive and we will be looking to transfer to other people who are offering something positive. we signed up to the principle of the

good friday agreement. who would you tra nsfer good friday agreement. who would you transfer to? who do we transfer to. that we could be better off. in terms of who i would want to transfer to, our own party. after that, you see any party thatis party. after that, you see any party that is progressive and anti—brexit. people for profit? the they're not in the same position on brexit. i would say vote for progressive parties and people that are view to your values of integrity and anticorruption. i want to come back quickly, what do you have to fear from sinn fein? well they want to

implement their radical republican agenda. iwant... nothing to implement their radical republican agenda. i want... nothing to fear of agenda. i want... nothing to fear of a united ireland. and nothing about my five point plan for northern ireland. she said we have nothing to positive to offer. if you look at our five—point plan, we want to see more and better jobs our five—point plan, we want to see more and betterjobs and an infrastructure that is world class, a good education. that could be a sinn fein manifesto. i spent three... i spent. sinn fein manifesto. i spent three... ispent. i sinn fein manifesto. i spent three... i spent. i sprent 3,000 words talking about it at my manifesto launch but you want to talk about gerry adams. the words are there. i didn't talk about crocodiles. that was at my campaign. you wouldn't take questions at the manifesto launch. the gentleman at the back. i'm one of approximately 45% of people who didn't vote last time. three of our leaders here have

convinced that i want to vote. simply because they're talking in terms of true partnership and leadership. and three out of five have convinced they want to work together for the sake of northern ireland and uniting it, two others are wanting to divide northern ireland. name names. michelle and arlene will never see eye to eye. it's negative leadership all the way. gentleman here in the blue. michelle o'neill was saying she wants for both sides of the community to help build a united ireland together, but her party leader gerry adams cam out and called my community orange and i'm not going to repeat his abusive language towards my community. that's not telling me that you want to reach out. also, disagree with my colum eastwood. i believe transferring the vote isn't

important especially in this election. i'm a unionist. iwant most unionists elections returned. in tight councils — most unionists elections returned. in tight councils - hurry it up a little please. if you don't have enough unionists, people vote and ta ke enough unionists, people vote and take dob the flag. that shows our identity. gentleman there. i'd like to ask the leaders who on the panel would be willing to sacrifice their wish for a united ireland or united kingdom if it meant that all of the community had better health care, better education and a better life? would you sacrifice that aim? that isa would you sacrifice that aim? that is a retorical question at the moment. i won't go round everybody, but we will do our best. question number three. you are a student representative. can you tell us what you believe that our specific priorities should be in the upcoming brexit negotiations? brexit, of course, is on everybody‘s lips, i suppose. martin mcguinness said that

people are talking about no border of the past but we've got the border of the past but we've got the border of the past but we've got the border of the future coming at us. what can anyone do michelle o'neill in hiss situation to influence brexit? we have no voice. we don't even have the secretary of state on the brexit committee. you're absolutely right. that's why i have engaged in theure even level. those in the british government dictate the terms of brexit. it will not be up to them, despite what theresa may says. we need to engage with europe on the member states that have a vote in terms of what happens next. this is unprecedented. clearly, it's catastrophic for the island of ireland. one issue i've raised with the taoiseach is that he needs to step up in the interest of ireland. there's free movement of people across this ireland and in relation to undermining the good friday agreement. one of the things they're most proud of is the fact they've played our part in the peace process. we need to go out and engage in europe. i think it's

disappointing and disgraceful again that the dup have taken a stance that the dup have taken a stance that turns their face against the majority of people here who voted to remain in europe. we have seen that we should have been paid to take that stance. that is disgusting. it shows that again, the dup in terms of allegations of corruption and arrogance and how they conduct themselves in business, that is not acceptable. would you take your westminster seats to vote on brexit issues? it's clear that anybody who has taken their westminster seats, we wobt. it will not make any difference. we're not being listened to out there. all the mps taking their seats will be ineffective. naomi long you're talking about special status. you want to be still in the single market, still in the customs union, still have access to structural funds and the right to eu citizenship to anyone born in northern ireland. are you ignoring the fact that the brexit referendum took place and brexit is brexit. we are dealing with the practical challenges that northern ireland face. what we are doing is eting is

out our pitch, unlike others we have produced a paper. it's la la land to coina produced a paper. it's la la land to coin a phrase. it is absolutely not. it's our pitch for what northern ireland needs. access to the customs union is important in terms of the cost — union is important in terms of the cost - you may think it's what northern ireland needs. there's no chance of your getting it. you don't know that, with all due respect. you won't be round the table when the negotiations take place. i don't need to convince you. i into ed to convince the irish government and the 27 other eu states. and british government who have said there's no special status. the british government can say that they want. they don't have a plan. they are going to be round the table and they have said no special status. they don't have a plan that includes northern ireland or takes our issues seriously. we do. so we will be taking that to the other nations within europe. we will be taking that to the irish government as we have. we're listening, very carefully to those who do business ona carefully to those who do business on a cross—border basis to the challenges they will face. i believe we can get special arrangements, believe it or not. there is goodwill

in the european union for northern ireland. people recognise that we are pro—eu region. they recognise the importance of europe in terms of actually helping our peace process. i think they are willing to be more flexible that people give them credit for. one of the good things about the eu that's often overlooked is it's ability to work round difficult issues and find bespoke solutions. i don't think it's unreasonable for us to go and fight our corner for a bespoke solution. if you're going to say that the answer to this is to lie down and give up and let theresa may — answer to this is to lie down and give up and let theresa may - i'm not saying anything of the sort. and let theresa may give us a hard border and all the other things, that's not the kind of politics that i want to do. colum eastwood, you wa nt i want to do. colum eastwood, you wantjoin british—irish i want to do. colum eastwood, you want join british—irish rule i want to do. colum eastwood, you wantjoin british—irish rule to give us, assuming there's no government after the election. i want a government here first of all. failing that, you've asked forjoint british—irish rule to give us a voice at the brexit table. that's another solution, isn't it? no, it's not. what are we supposed to do? if we elect the dup and shane feign,

who can't form a government, are we supposed to say over to you theresa may, you lead this hard brexit and destroy all the hopes and dreams of people here? destroy our peace process , people here? destroy our peace process, destroy our economic process. that may be what you have to do. that's why i've spent the last number of months travelling around europe meeting the heads of our sister parties from across europe, many of them presidents and prime ministers to push the case for special status for citizens here. remember the vast majority of people living in northern ireland are entitled to be european citizens. that has to be respected. we have to be able to move freely and do business freely across the european union. if we don't get that, this will become an economic black water and it will threaten our peace process. anybody who says differently a re process. anybody who says differently are living in la la land, as you said. i put the same point to you, though, the bring government have said there will be no special status. it's not up to them. it's between the british government and the eu, the negotiations. the british government don't know what they want. they don't know what they want. they don't have a clue. their position changes every single day. what i've

been doing is speaking to the irish government, speaking to governments across europe to press the case for the special status that we require. can you call it whatever you want. it's protecting citizens here, protecting communities and protecting communities and protecting businesses. that's what we have to be involved in. we are the representatives of the people here who voted to remain in the european union. 0ur here who voted to remain in the european union. our job here who voted to remain in the european union. 0urjob is to protect them not to vote to get them out. it's unfortunate, though, that our executive did nothing when they we re our executive did nothing when they were in post, unlike the scottish government and welsh government. specific priorities was the question. we have ten asks that we published back in september when we produced our own document, a vision for northern ireland outside of the european union. i would make this point to you, noel, as we sit here, at the end of february, the uk government has a white paper looking at brexit. the scottish government has a paper. the welsh government has a paper. the welsh government has a paper. the welsh government has a paper. the dublin government has a paper. the dublin government has a paper. our government prodoused a blank sheet. we produced

a paper. the key asks are things like access to the sing the market, the common travel area. and other areas like infrastructure, where we're very weak. treble investment in infrastructure. dup say your proposals are uncosted and untested. the dup campaigned to come out of the european union on the basis that we would re pat the european union on the basis that we would repat reiate billions and billions and billions of sterling annually from brussels. where is the negotiation that say to mrs may, you must take some of that lump of money and give it to us for things like skills and infrastructure ? and give it to us for things like skills and infrastructure? all that's available on our website. it's a terrible shame that we are not negotiating. i took our document to mrs may in downing street. she understands our particular circumstances — listens so intently, she has it on the back page of her document. she gave us one wee mention in the annexe. the british government will not dictate the terms. arlene foster, you sent a

joint letter with martin mcguinness talking about access to migrant labour, cross—border crime and peace process , labour, cross—border crime and peace process, must continue to be dealt with. are you pro or anti? we are a pro—brexit party and have been for 40 pro—brexit party and have been for 110 yea rs, pro—brexit party and have been for 110 years, unlike mike's party who changed at the brexit debate, well, sorry, mike changed. his party were mostly for coming out of the european union. you do not know that. maybe you should speak to your members, because i do. they were for coming out. what do the public say. 0ld coming out. what do the public say. old friends of yours, of course. where she gets her policies from. i'm certainly not taking any of yours. can i say to you, we campaigned for brexit. we believe in brexit. we believe in global uk. we wa nt to brexit. we believe in global uk. we want to be a part of that. we're positive about it. you believe in spending other people's money to bring it about. we believe in flexibility and innovation, something not existing in the european union. we will work with

the government, not against the government to bring about a brexit thatis government to bring about a brexit that is good for northern ireland. of course, the dup is the best placed party to bring about a good dealfor northern placed party to bring about a good deal for northern ireland, placed party to bring about a good dealfor northern ireland, because of our influence at westminster. michelle says she's not going to go to westminster. we do have westminster mps. will you respond to the claim that taking £1100,000 out from the constitutional research council for the newspaper adverts in england was despicable. no, of course it wasn't. we registered, unlike any of the other parties — course it wasn't. we registered, unlike any of the other parties - we registered. maybe you tell us about your donations then. where did this money come from? there's another story out tonight breaking — money come from? there's another story out tonight breaking - you've had your chance to speak. can you defend that. we've been entirely open as to where the money comes from. it comes from the constitutional research — no, it wasn't. that is so... that's wrong. you made a commitment that you would publish — you made a commitment that you would publish - we have published this. you said you would publish this

around your donors in your manifesto. have you published your donors? yes, we have. you have published one. neither has anyone else of course. let's not stick on that. a couple of comments from the audience. we publish ours voluntarily. i don't know how anybody can trust a party who took such a large donation to campaign for brexit, while sitting on a report on brexit for northern ireland. i have no idea what you're talking about. i think it was summed up talking about. i think it was summed up the other night, brexit at any cost. the dup have gapbled with all our futures —— gambled. cost. the dup have gapbled with all our futures -- gambled. it's interesting how mike and colum talk about working together. i'm quite tempted to go for that. brexit shows how can you work together when you are so how can you work together when you are so different on such a major issue facing us? that joint letter was a sign there was some preparedness to work together. again, we've run out of time on that question. thank you ladies and

gentleman. we move on to the fourth question. sarah, you are in marketing. good evening. given the failure of the parties to continue running stormont, is direct rule now inevitable post election? well, that was a big question, of course. colum eastwood, you have said a protracted period of direct rule looks inevitable. is it so inevitable?m is only inevitable if people vote for the dup and sinn fein, who have put down red lines everywhere. they've said they can't work together, they can't get the deal done. if we end up with direct rile, it's going to be a very difficult to put this back together again. we should vote for parties who want to work together on day one. we're not putting down red lines here. we want to get into government to tackle the issues and challenges around brexit, the tackle the issues in the health service, not put up barriers to progress. the idea of handing back power, so hard fought for, to the british government, who are intent on destroying our health service,

intent on taking us into a hard brexit, putting up barriers across this ireland will be a real shame. we're ina this ireland will be a real shame. we're in a battle to protect devolution, to protect power sharing. don't let anybody tell us, any commentator or poster tell you know yourself don't have —— tell you you don't have the power. they can maintain devolution and power sharing and stop direct rule. you have said there were no red lines. then your mla said of course, there's the irish act, the legacy issues, the bill of rights, a whole list of red lines. which is your position? i've always said that we won't negotiate our red lines in public. everybody has red lines. it's interesting that it's only sinn fein that only gets asked about red lines. colum eastwood says he doesn't have red lines. i think it's a nonence. hold on. was has this to do with forming a government. all

talk at once let's talk about possibly forming a government. i'll come back to that. that is the question. i don't want you to come back to it. that is the question. question. i don't want you to come back to it. that is the questionm you'll let me finish. i want you to a nswer you'll let me finish. i want you to answer the question. i'm asking for the strongest mandate for sinn fein to go into the negotiations to deal with the issues. to demand what? there's no public appetite for a gnaw agreement. what we need, the reason we're in the scenario we are in today is because of a failure to implement what's previously agreed. like the irish language act, the bill of rights, legacy issues. they are key issues which are important for society. we need to see those things implemented. i'm not seeking a gnaw agreement. i have my negotiation team ready to go. we wa nt negotiation team ready to go. we want to find a way forward. nobody has worked harder than sinn fein — but you won't negotiate as long as arlene foster is the nominated first minister? if they become the biggest party? i've always said it's not for me to dictate who leads the dup. so

you will negotiate? i'll come at it with a good heart, wanting to find a way forward. i want to brick politics into the new era. a new style of government and politics. this is straight, because it's important. if the dup is the biggest party in this election, and arlene foster is nominated as first minister, you will nominate a deputy first machine and go into negotiations. no, no, i said i can't dictate who leads the dup but we can say who goes into government with. that's the same thing.” say who goes into government with. that's the same thing. i can't go into government with arlene foster whilst there's a cloud hanging over her. the full vaning needs to —— investigation needs to report. you see if arlene wants to — investigation needs to report. you see if arlene wants to - if the public have their say and make the dup the biggest party you're not letting the public have their say. say that again. if people elect the dup as the biggest party and the dup puts forward arlene foster then you are not listening to the people.” am absolutely listening to the people. i'm true to the principles

of the good friday agreement. i would like to see all parties in the executive, all parties working together on the principles of power sharing. if we go back to the principles of the good friday agreement, quality, respect and integrity, through power sharing — you won't respect the dup mandate.” can respect their plan date. i can respect who they return. i can respect who they return. i can respect who they return. i can respect who leads the dup. i can't go into government whilst there's a shadow hanging over arlene foster fost. applause —— arlene foster. applause is that a reasonable position?” don't think it is. we called for arlene foster to stand aside without prejudice. she is not going to do that. it is not for us to dictate the outcome after the election. we said it won't be about personalities or party, but about policy and principles. we were clear in the last election as we have been in this one, that we have red lines and we have been open about what they are. because we want people to

understand our reasons to decide to go into government or not go into government. we have been open and honest about that on both occasions. i want to see is not an extended period of direct rule, it is not inevitable, people have a choice to make to make sure it does not happen and it is not desirable. what you need to have and what we have found asa need to have and what we have found as a result of discussion we have had is more accountable government and we won't get that from westminster, we will get this from electing the right people to go to stormont and do the job to the best of their ability and not power sharing, the problem is we have never tried power sharing. wind farm tried power carve up and it has not worked. now is the time to try power sharing, where people go into government together, together work, as opposed to using their departments like fiefdoms and don't

recognise what is going on in the departments beside that. that can't continue and it has failed over and over again. we need a transformation in attitude as much as in practice. mike nesbitt is direct rule inevitable? i do not believe it is, because i'm not fatalist tick about the result and i'm encouraged by the man in the 45% who said he would vote. if sinn fein and dup are the two main parties is direct rule inevitable. it seems likely, but it doesn't fix anything, we have to get back to 19 years ago and the ulster unionist party worked for that and that was based on a fresh start for reconciliation, building trust between the two communities, demonstrating mutual respect. that will have to come. whether it is in

this election or the next one. we will have to show each other... we are talking about a three week period after thursday. there must be an executive and a government set up. it depends on who votes and how they vote. would you go for some kind of, there has been talk about having direct rule ministers responsible to an assembly, is that reasonable? they're all propositions that only need to be discussed be people don't vote for change. i encourage people too decide they wa nt encourage people too decide they want to build a properly shared future. talking about red lines, arlene foster, you have said your demands will be proportionate to the demands will be proportionate to the demands of sinn fein. what does that mean? we want devolution back up and running quickly, because unlike the others, i think that we have achieved in this past ten years, stability has brought achievements.

we we re stability has brought achievements. we were able to create 40,000 new jobs and see waiting lists go down and seen infrastructure improve and more tourists come to northern ireland. iwant more tourists come to northern ireland. i want to see that back as quickly as possible to get into the positive way forward and i suppose it isa positive way forward and i suppose it is a matter for sinn fein as to what they come forward with, if they come forward with a long list of demands, and we are not sure what they will come forward with, of course we will want to be proportionate in what we want for our community. what about those demandses. . you're there to represent the entire community, not just their community or your community. that is why we want devolution back to create the jobs we promised. that is what... is not a red line though is it? we are not

talking about red lines. of course we have to see what sinn fein will ask for. what i want to see is devolution back up and running. that is what the people of northern ireland want. if sinn fein wins, we win for everybody, i'm only interested in governing for everybody. equality, integrity and respect in government. i'm not interesting in finding thing force unionism or nationalism. none will happen, arlene foster, if you want to remain as first minister. if you we re to remain as first minister. if you were acting in the interests of the people, you would say i will sit back. not a single vote has been counted. so it is important that people come out and vote on thursday for what they want to see. and they have a very clear choice, it whether they want a important election

recognising values or a sinn fein republican plan. i think we can move northern ireland forward. it is whether there is the will from others. yes? you have mentioned the worries about what sinn fein might do, but you hold the same veto as they held over your plans, when you they held over your plans, when you they were the deputy first minister, what is the difference? i'm not talking about if they become first minister, i'm talking about if they win the election, they will push ahead with their radical agenda and will use their mandate to argue for a border poll that would be destabilising for northern ireland and we have seen the way it has destabilised scotland sa it would be wrong for northern ireland if we had that. the only thing that will

change is the dup's ego will be wounded and i don't think the public ca res wounded and i don't think the public cares about that, they care about health and education. the fact that less than two years, the election is a testament to their inability to work together. we are talking about ten years of stability it has not been ten years of stability for the environment we have had ten years with the biggest illegal landfill in europe and that comes back to the door of environment minister who rejected recommendations for environmental form. for rejected recommendations for environmentalform. for an rejected recommendations for environmental form. for an illegal land dump, are you serious. do you go back to your decision. no, it doesn't. michelle said the mandate of the people will be listened to, what about the mandate of everyone across northern ireland, are you going to listen to the mandate of

everybody else with l gb t rights and the stability and the first minister's office has been martin mcguinness. that is your opinion, your entitled it, ithink mcguinness. that is your opinion, your entitled it, i think the stability of first minister's office was a joint effort. mike told he would vote down the candidates you trust and you're an ex—belfast man, and you have that selection of unionists that you would frus a nationalist. —— trust a nationalist. that is the ironic, because he doesn't trust the other unionist and he will find unionists don't trust mike, because he doesn't show moral leadership. there has been talk about the united ireland and sinn

fein being the leader, sinn fein leader being the first minister. am i not right in thinking at the good friday agreement the question of the constitution of northern ireland was settled? what i would like to ask, the gentleman said the good friday agreement said the constitution question was settled, it has been settled under the principle of consent that cuts both ways. are we going to be dragged back out of eu because people voted to... it was a national vote. that is the point. you have to accept the overall vote. arlene talks about a radical republican agenda, if that means supporting the irish language, sign me up, i'm for that. you go ahead.

you're voting in east belfast and said you will transfer to other candidates that are progressive, will you vote for naomi?” candidates that are progressive, will you vote for naomi? i have no doubt... i will. there you go, it is a straight answer. my goodness. the issue of l gb t rights has been talked about, one issue has been the abuse of petition of concern. now arlene wants to get rid of it. will you tell us, will you not use the petition of concern... used 96 times. will arlene commit to not using the petition of consent on equal marriage? let me be very clear... applause i can see we have a balanced audience tonight. let me be clear. completely balanced. no

expense spared to get a balanced audience. let me be clear, the sdlp and sinn fein used the petition of concern to block welfare reform and cost the people of northern ireland £174 million, 160,000 a day for three years. that is how they used it. it was to protect the most vulnerable. they want to use the petition of concern when it suits them. unionism is not allowed to. i'm glad she didn't bang the podium the way she banged the table when we asked about this last may. when we asked about this last may. when we asked clearly, if as agreed under the fresh start, this was something thatarlene signed up, they use the petition of concern... we have run out of time. sorry, it is amazing

how quickly the time passes when you are enjoying yourself. you can see a full list of candidates on the bbc news web side. the green party and people for profit will give their views on newsline. from here a very good night. in the outcome of the tunisian beach attack. injune 2015, an islamist gunman killed 30 british tourists at a beach resort. today the families endorsed the outcome of the inquests. it's particularly heartbreaking to think that if the police had have been called, if the national guard had got there sooner, then lives could have or probably would have been saved. the families of the victims have decided to sue the travel company for not giving sufficient warning of the risks of going to tunisia. if the tour operator,

tui thomson, had played their part and said, "look, you know, there's a risk here," and directed them to that, i firmly believe they'd never have gone. we'll have the reaction to the coroner's finding