i heard the irish prime minister leo varadkar talking i heard the irish prime minister leo va radkarking about this i heard the irish prime minister leo varadkar talking about this in a very uncompromising way. his deputy simon coney hasjust very uncompromising way. his deputy simon coney has just been very uncompromising way. his deputy simon coney hasjust been in brussels. and ireland is doing all that it can to ensure that the relationship between dublin and brussels remains as strong through brexit as it can possibly be. and it looks like what the commission is set to publish tomorrow is a very ha rd set to publish tomorrow is a very hard stance. theresa may had a deal in december, a deal which provided a bit of leeway for the partners in her coalition that prop up the government, the dup, but it looks like the commission is going to come up like the commission is going to come up with a hardline view and frankly, this is kind of high noon, i think. there is a big possibility now that the uk walks away from the table, in order to try and force the hand of brussels. for viewers ou

known for some very robust polymer trip performances and combative exchanges with prime minister leo varadkarhink we are certainly seeing a symbolic transition moment fishing pain, as we've got people who have had connections with the ira, although gerry adams has always denied being in that organisation, moving away from the senior positions in the party and being replaced by a new generation of leaders who had no connection with the troubles in northern ireland. mcdonald is among that generation, shejoined sinn fein during the peace process. as regard the party's attitude to the past, i don't think they will turn around and start deciding the ira campaign, i think they will continue to defend what they will continue to defend what the ira did sit there may be a change in emphasis. the party these days wants to talk more about peace in politics rather than paramilitaries. the big ambition for sinn fein is for them to be in government north of the irish border and south. whether they get back into the government in northern ireland depends on the outcome of talks to restore devolution at stor

t irish as long as the "along—withthe t t irish leo varadkar.another huge ireland, as it faces another huge issue: brexit and the irish border thrust of the irish government wants further guarantees that there will be no hard border. theresa may has given those guarantees but as yet no clear plans have emerged to show how that will be the case. well this has all the makings of being a gay free deals, these days have come and gone in northern ireland in the past. keith doyle, bbc news. and we can cross to stormont and to our correspondent keith doyle now. the optimism that was there a fewer hours ago seems to be diminishing by the moment. there was optimism, but you don't bring two prime ministers over the talks unless you feel there isa over the talks unless you feel there is a deal in the air, but we have heard from the dup that a deal, they are saying, will be hard to back out today, there are still a lot of issues to be resolved. you are absolutely right, simon. it seems to be frittering away as we speak, but there are some release areas issu

straight to belfast to storm into you the statement being made by leo varadkar.f finding an accommodation which will allow the executive assembly to get back up and running again, the irish government is here to support them in their work government is here to support them in theirwork in government is here to support them in their work in any way we can. i had a chance to meet one—to—one with prime minister to reason may and the two tea ms prime minister to reason may and the two teams met to discuss northern ireland and the future relationship that might exist between britain and the uk after brexit and to speak about brexit itself and the two governments, but the british and irish, i very much of the view that the agreement that was made back in december it stands and that we both preferring option a as the best option by which we can avoid a hard border in ireland and that is through a comprehensive trade and customs agreement involving britain and ireland, that's the best way we can avoid any new barrier is north and south and east and west. we have worked t

theresa may was speaking after she and the taisoeach, leo varadkar, held talks at stormont in a jointmonth deadlock over some key issues, including the status of the irish langauge, as our ireland correspondent chris page reports. the prime minister began her visit to belfast at a place which was recently the scene of an unexpected victory, hundreds ofjobs had been under threat at the aircraft manufacturer bombardier. they're safe now after the firm won a trade dispute against boeing in the us. but theresa may came to northern ireland looking for another win, talks to restore power—sharing between the democratic unionist party and sinn fein are at a critical stage 13 months after the devolved government collapsed. critical stage 13 months after the devolved government collapsedlj believe devolved government collapsed.” believe there is the basis of an agreement here and i believe that it should be possible to see an executive up and running here in northern ireland very soon. she was joined in the negotiations by the irish sea coast, —— the irish leader. we are hopeful the two parties

theresa may was speaking after she and the taisoeach leo varadkar, held talks at stormont in a joint13—month deadlock. 0ur ireland correspondent chris page reports. the prime minister began her visit to belfast at a place which was recently the scene of an unexpected victory, hundreds ofjobs had been under threat at the aircraft manufacturer bombardier. they are safe now after the firm won a trade dispute against boeing in the us. but mrs may came here looking to help find another breakthrough. northern ireland has been without a devolved government for 13 months. i have urged the parties today to get a final push to see if we can get a final push to see if we can getan get a final push to see if we can get an executive up and running, i believe there is the basis of an agreement here and i believe it should be possible to see an executive up and running in northern ireland soon. the main sticking point has been whether there should bea point has been whether there should be a new law to protect and promote the irish language. for speakers of the irish language. for speakers of the t

the prime minister theresa may will meet the irish prime minister leo varadkar in belfast later todayics action with the bbc sports centre. we've seen incredibly tough conditions at the winter olympics today — vicious cross winds disrupted proceedings and team gb snowboarder aimee fuller said she was "lucky to be in one piece" after the slopestyle final went ahead, despite concerns. joe lynskey has more. embracing the elements is the way of these athletes but even they have their limits. the wind blows in from siberia and brings the chill and danger. we are already delayed 30 minutes, it is really windy. it puts no women's slope style final in doubt but after waiting one hour they ruled conditions had cleared. but the wind had only subsided, not gone away. goodness me. this was the slovakian, remarkably she was ok and road again. but these slopes were barely suited for style. we are on the limit of running this contest. for britain's aimee fuller this was an unexpected shot at the medals. with one run left, she tried to take on the wind. it was like riding into a wind tunnel. brutal.

ireland's taoiseach leo varadkar has said he will work hard with the british government to avoid a ‘hardd the customs union and so it‘s hard to see that‘s going to work? a new report shows ireland‘s economy could suffer a 7% hit as a result of a no—deal brexit. so what do the changes ahead mean for the people of ireland? one man staring the situation in the face, is fergus 0‘dowd, a fine gael politician representing the border consituency of louth. hejoins me from dublin. thank you forjoining me. what you make of this new economic assessment report showing a 7% hit if there is no deal but pretty much a hit under any circumstances even if there are variations of staying in the customs union but not the customs union or vice versa. i looked at all the options between a so—called soft brexit, as much as we can between the uk and europe and ireland as we have now and the hard brexit where there is no deal. the worst scenario isa there is no deal. the worst scenario is a growth rate of 2.2% and that the economy would lose out something like 18 billion by 2030. a huge problem for everyone and

mrs may and the irish prime minister leo varadkar told the parties they were committed to bringing backr the meetings, stormont politicians struck a positive note. good progress has been made, we will continue to work to look for more progress. and it's about finding an accommodation that recognises the need to respect all languages and all cultures in northern ireland. we don't believe that there is anything now that is insurmountable left to resolve. there are matters of clarity and some detail. the main sticking point has been whether there should be a new law to protect and promote the irish language. for speakers of the tongue, irish is about identity, culture and history, and they believe it needs legal recognition. it needs equality and it needs to be on the same level as gaelic in scotland and welsh in wales. and obviously english here as well. it needs to be on an equal footing with the rest and that's all we're asking. but in unionist areas there is suspicion and even hostility towards the idea. here in shankill road in west belfast people are strongly opposed to an irish lang

theresa may and the irish prime minister, leo varadkar, are visiting belfast for talks with northern the two parties collapsed more than a year ago. the first footage of an iceberg, four times the size of london, has been released by the british antarctic survey. it's the start of what scientists call an "urgent mission" to document the marine ecosystem that was exposed when the iceberg broke away from the continent's ice sheet last year. those are the headlines on bbc news. thank you. for many dog owners — their pet feels just as much a part of their family as their children or their parents. so imagine how it would feel when that dog is stolen. we will be talking about that after the sport. send in your messages. in the sport. send in your messages. in the meantime, some sport with sarah. conditions at the olympics absolutely brutal today, that's according to snowboarder amy fuller, many people questioning fayette went ahead. fuller had a nasty fall, finishing 17th. greig laidlaw or scotland's era, baby at france 3226, greg laidlaw kicked 22 points, they registered their first win

the next irish general election is not due until 2021, but because the prime minister leo varadkar leadslection later on this year perhaps even, so that will be the next major test for mary lou mcdonald, as she leads a party into her first election as leader here in the irish republic. the headlines on bbc news... the head of oxfam denies a cover up over claims that haiti aid workers paid for sex, as downing street orders a review of its relationship with the charity. israel has carried out attacks on a dozen targets in syria, including air defence systems, after one of its jets came under syrian anti—aircraft fire and crashed. at least 18 people are dead and 60 injured as a double—decker bus overturns in hong kong. in sport, tottenham win the north london derby, with harry kane's second—half header. spies are now up to third place in the premiership. ireland are thumping italy 28—0 at half—time in the second week of by half—time in the second week of rugby union's six nations. england play wales later. elise christie qualifies the second fastest in the short—track speed skating 500 metr

theresa may and the irish prime minister, leo varadkar, are visiting belfast for talks with northernes. there are suggestions the democratic unionists and sinn fein, could be close to a deal to restore devolved government, after the failure of several previous rounds of negotiations. power sharing at stormont collapsed more than a year ago. keith doyle reports. the first visit for the prime minister this morning was the bombarding a factory in belfast. last month, a surprise settlement in a long running trade dispute saw jobs secured. mrs's secure visit to belfast is seen as positive. to rest all the northern ireland executive. northern ireland has been run by civil servants since the power—sharing executive collapsed in january last year. tensions between the ruling parties, the democratic unionists and sinn fein, of implementing the irish language and same—sex marriage as well as an overall acrimonious relationship. it has resulted in 13 months of stalemate. at the weekend, the new sinn fein leader, mary lou mcdonald, indicated that some sort of deal might be in the making. but it

mrs may and the irish prime minister leo varadkar told the parties they were committed to bringing back, stormont politicians struck a positive note. good progress has been made, we will continue to work to look for more progress. and it's about finding an accommodation that recognises the need to respect all languages and all cultures in northern ireland. we don't believe that there is anything now that is insurmountable left to resolve. there are matters of clarity and some detail. the main sticking point has been whether there should be a new law to protect and promote the irish language. for speakers of the tongue, irish is about identity, culture and history, and they believe it needs legal recognition. it needs equality and it needs to be on the same level as gaelic in scotland and welsh in wales. and obviously english here as well. it needs to be on an equal footing with the rest and that's all we're asking. but in unionist areas there is suspicion and even hostility towards the idea. here in shankill road in west belfast people are strongly opposed to an irish language law. woul

the prime minister theresa may, the irish prime minister leo varadkar, visited belfast on monday saideep political crisis has seemed pretty intractable more or less from the start. northern ireland has no political miracles in the past. there have been some very serious period of instability. devolution did eventually stabilise itself. two yea rs did eventually stabilise itself. two years ago stormont looked in a more steady state than it had been in with ten years of power—sharing unbroken between the dup and sinn fein. all of that changed injanuary of last year when the executive fell out over a row about a green energy scheme which went over budget. the sticking point have emerged, there are differences on same—sex manager, sinn fein wanting to introduce it, the dup don‘t. disagreements over how to deal with unsolved killings from the troubles. the most serious and difficult point has been sinn fein and the nationalist party calling for an irish language act, which would protect and promote the irish language. unionist parties have said effectively they regarded as too big a conces