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The Nolan Show

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Breaking news and hard-hitting talk about the big stories of the day.

Breaking news and hard-hitting talk - Stephen Nolan gets you talking about the big stories of the day.

Breaking news and hard-hitting talk - Stephen Nolan gets you talking about the big stories of the day. Call Stephen on 03030 80 55 55 (standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply), text 81771 or email nolan@bbc.co.uk.

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The Nolan Show: DUP on Brexit, PIP assessments, and further RHI revelations

DUP on Brexit, PIP assessments, and further RHI revelations

BBC Radio Ulster - The Nolan Show, DUP on Brexit, PIP assessments, and further RHI revelations

DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson on binning the Brexit backstop.

DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson on binning the Brexit backstop. Stephen asked him what arrangement should be put in its place in order for the DUP to support Theresa May.

One of the most controversial aspects of Theresa May's Brexit deal is the issue of the NI backstop. Something we’re sure you never thought that you'd be talking about for the last two years. Now Northern Ireland is at the heart of the biggest EU story in decades. Stephen has been speaking to MP and chief whip for the DUP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. They, of course, want to bin the backstop. Stephen asked him what arrangement should be put in its place in order for the DUP to support Theresa May.

Also on the programme, over the last few weeks we have been hearing some really damning stories about the Personal Independent Payment assessment. We heard from Aisling, her 16 year old son Pearse is severely disabled requiring 24 hour care. He has cerebral palsy, a learning disability, he takes seizures, he can't walk, he is non-verbal, and he is peg fed through a tube. When he was assessed he received 1 out of 8 for administering his medication and 2 out of 10 for eating and drinking. Then there was John McMullan, his son Declan has locked in syndrome, despite being unable to move, talk or eat and requiring 24 hour care Declan was scored 2 out of 8 for managing his treatments. 6 out of 8 for eating and drinking when he was assessed by a PIP assessor. And then Lewis Nickell who has Tourette's Syndrome. That means he has physical tics and uncontrollable swearing but was scored 0 for 'mixing with other people' and 0 points for 'communicating during his PIP assessment. After our continuing coverage an interview was arranged with Dr. Ian Gargan Chief Medical Officer of Capita and Dr Shah Faisal medical Direct for Great Britain Capita who both flew in from England for us. Stephen spoke with them along with Colum Boyle Deputy Secretary for the Department of Communities.

And, the oral evidence may have finished at the RHI Inquiry, but the revelations keep coming. The latest written evidence to be published on the Inquiry website has raised significant questions over some of the original testimony already submitted by both the DUP and Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein have now contradicted oral evidence given by their former Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir on how the party's so-called 'super-SpAds' were paid for. And the DUP SpAd Timothy Cairns has told the Inquiry why a significant email was only handed to the RHI Inquiry more than a year after it was requested. Stephen was joined by the Newsletter political editor Sam McBride.

All that and more on the biggest show in the country…

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