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Peter Robinson to talk to Welsh first minister on 'No' vote Scottish independence: Peter Robinson says NI border poll not needed
(35 minutes later)
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson is to talk to his Welsh counterpart Carwyn Jones later on the implications of the 'No' vote in the Scottish referendum. A vote on the future of Northern Ireland's border is not necessary following Scotland's 'No' vote, First Minister Peter Robinson has said.
On Friday, Mr Robinson tweeted: "Delighted Scotland has voted to remain in the Union. We are better together." The DUP leader said: "More and more people in Northern Ireland want to maintain the status quo."
David Cameron said he was "delighted" by the outcome. Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the United Kingdom would "never be the same again".
The Prime Minister said the UK must now work to ensure NI's devolved institutions function effectively. He said a similar debate to the "exciting and enthralling" one in Scotland was possible.
'Fiscal powers' 'Opposite direction'
"Just as Scotland will vote separately in the Scottish parliament on their issues of tax, spending and welfare, so too England, as well as Wales and Northern Ireland, should be able to vote on these issues and all this must take place in tandem with and at the same pace as the settlement for Scotland." "I think we could do the same here, and we can do it without opening up divisions that would be detrimental to the institutions which we are part of at the moment," he said.
Northern Ireland politicians have been giving their reactions to the Scottish result. However, Mr Robinson said: "The law requires the secretary of state to be convinced there is the possibility of change - every opinion poll is going in the opposite direction."
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said "things have changed utterly", and Stormont politicians "need to have a united voice in entering into future discussions". He added: "I don't run away from any ballot that allows the people of Northern Ireland to determine what's best for them - I have no doubt what the outcome would be."
Mr McGuinness said "things have changed utterly", and Stormont politicians "need to have a united voice in entering into future discussions" on taxation and government spending.
"What we need to do is find a large measure of agreement on what extra powers we think can benefit the people that we represent, including fiscal powers," he said."What we need to do is find a large measure of agreement on what extra powers we think can benefit the people that we represent, including fiscal powers," he said.
Mr McGuinness added: "From our perspective, we would want to enter that debate, recognising that there will be in all probability a commonality of approach between the Scots, the Welsh and ourselves.Mr McGuinness added: "From our perspective, we would want to enter that debate, recognising that there will be in all probability a commonality of approach between the Scots, the Welsh and ourselves.
"Our job here is that we have to have a united approach - can we get that? I think it is absolutely achievable.""Our job here is that we have to have a united approach - can we get that? I think it is absolutely achievable."
On the issue of implementing welfare reform in Northern Ireland, Mr McGuinness said: "I'm not fighting with Peter Robinson and the DUP over welfare cuts - my argument is with David Cameron and the decision that his government took to bring that hammer blow down on us after we negotiated a Programme for Government." However, Mr Robinson said: "I would always be more impressed when people ask for the transfer of full fiscal powers if they had shown a competence in dealing with the powers that we have.
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: "Northern Ireland and Wales must be part of this debate as well - as to what the future constitutional arrangements will be, the level of devolution that we can expect and what happens at Westminster - and we will be at the table." "There is no point in giving to an executive more powers to manage their finances if they are not capable of taking difficult decisions with the powers they have."
SDLP leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell said the Scottish National Party had shown how independence campaigns "should be fought". The issue of implementing welfare reform in Northern Ireland has divided the parties in recent months.
"The people of Scotland have engaged in a rational, sensible debate on their future. This was a campaign of ideas, policies and debates not violence, death and intimidation," he said. Mr McGuinness said: "I'm not fighting with Peter Robinson and the DUP over welfare cuts - my argument is with David Cameron and the decision that his government took to bring that hammer blow down on us after we negotiated a programme for government."
"The futility of our own recent history has been drawn into stark contrast." Mr Robinson said the pledges made by the three Westminster party leaders in the days before the referendum would not change the issue.
Alliance Party MP for east Belfast Naomi Long said: "There will now be a new constitutional settlement for the UK, which will have potentially significant impact on Northern Ireland. "What is likely to be the limit of anything that would happen in Scotland in the issue of welfare reform is that they would have the same power as we have and the same ability that we have to top up any arrangements that have been agreed at a UK level," he said.
"Worryingly, the current immaturity displayed regularly by some of our so-called political leaders makes it almost impossible for Northern Ireland to be taken seriously in talks - never mind getting the best deal out of any changes." "That means that you have to find the money yourself.
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt called the Scottish referendum result "a victory for common sense". "I'm happy to look at powers but that has to go alongside a mechanism to deal with those powers in an effective and efficient manner.
"Congratulations to all the Scottish voters, whether they voted yes or no, on their ability to get to where they are today without one bullet being fired or the creation of one innocent victim. Unfortunately, that was not our experience in Northern Ireland," he said. "If you have those kind of powers, you can't have deadlock in your executive."
Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson, who spoke at a 'no' rally in Edinburgh days before the referendum, said: "Our family of nations, and the unmistakable bond we all share, remains unbroken and we look forward to Scotland remaining British for many generations to come." Mr Robinson discussed the implications of the Scottish vote with his Welsh counterpart Carwyn Jones on Friday
The turnout for the Scottish referendum has beaten Northern Ireland's record 81% turnout for the 1998 Good Friday Agreement vote. A total of 86% went to the polls in Scotland on Thursday. Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "delighted" by the outcome of the vote, and the UK must now work to ensure Northern Ireland's devolved institutions function effectively.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said the Republic of Ireland remained Scotland's neighbour, friend and partner across political, economic, cultural and many other spheres, and its relations with the UK had never been stronger. "Just as Scotland will vote separately in the Scottish parliament on their issues of tax, spending and welfare, so too England, as well as Wales and Northern Ireland, should be able to vote on these issues and all this must take place in tandem with and at the same pace as the settlement for Scotland."
"We are committed to deepening and strengthening the already close relationships across these islands," he said.
"Attention will now turn to the changes likely to take place following the referendum, particularly in terms of devolution of powers. This process will be closely followed in Ireland."
Irish minister for foreign affairs, Charlie Flanagan said: "The strong bonds and historic links between us all run deep and are well-known.
"We will be in close contact with London, Edinburgh and other administrations as discussions proceed on enhanced devolution for Scotland and on the political changes across the UK as outlined by Prime Minister (David) Cameron in his statement this morning."
BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback and Evening Extra will be live from Scotland on Friday.BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback and Evening Extra will be live from Scotland on Friday.
BBC Newsline's Tara Mills will be joined in Edinburgh by BBC NI's political correspondent Gareth Gordon to report on the reaction in Scotland to the referendum result on Newsline at 13:30 BST and 18:30 BST on Friday.BBC Newsline's Tara Mills will be joined in Edinburgh by BBC NI's political correspondent Gareth Gordon to report on the reaction in Scotland to the referendum result on Newsline at 13:30 BST and 18:30 BST on Friday.