Taoiseach Enda Kenny has welcomed the decisive result in the Scottish referendum and said pledges by Westminister for greater devolution to Scotland will have implications for Northern Ireland as well as other parts of the United Kingdom.
Mr Kenny said he had watched the results of the referendum on Scottish independence unfold with interest before a final result was declared this morning, which saw Scots vote by a margin of 55 per cent to 45 per cent to reject independence and remain part of the United Kingdom.
“The spirit of democracy is very much alive in Scotland. The people gave a very clear and decisive decision. What was requested was that the referendum would be fair, legal and decisive and that has been the case,” he said.
“I am quite sure that the words of both the prime minister (David Cameron) and the first minister, Alex Salmond, are very important… that there be unity, that there be a real follow through on what has been committed.”
Speaking in Mitchelstown in Co Cork, Mr Kenny said it was important the institutions already set up in Northern Ireland including the Northern Assembly work as they were intended to function.
“Clearly it has implications for the future. Things will not be the same in the future because the devolution of extra powers to Scotland will bring with it claims from other parts and indeed from other countries,” he said.
“There may well be other issues for further devolution of authority in Northern Ireland and this is a matter that the Irish Government will obviously consider.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said there are "interesting challenges" ahead in the aftermath of the Scottish No vote.
He said there may be some changes that have implications for Ireland and other countries, but it was important to ensure positive relationships remained in place.
“Our nearest neighbour is our greatest trading partner and it’s our job to stay that way,” he said.
“Obviously there will be implications for Northern Ireland. We are awaiting an announcement by Prime Minister Cameron in relation to the corporation tax.”
Mr Flanagan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland said he was confident trade opportunities existed as a consequence of new powers promised for Scotland.
Perceived threats could be seen as opportunities, he added.
Mr Flanagan said the next big debate for the British was whether or not to stay in the European Union.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson welcomed the outcome of the referendum.
The DUP leader tweeted: “Delighted Scotland has voted to remain in the Union. We are better together”.
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt tweeted: "We really are better together. We now have a great opportunity to build a better Union"
As the focus shifts to promises made to the Scottish people ahead of the referendum, it is expected Northern Ireland and Wales will also seek greater control of their own affairs.
Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew said: "I hope and I do expect that things will be different from here on in and I think there [ARE]certainly opportunities that we will be looking at and trying to grasp for the people here," she told BBC Northern Ireland.
The DUP's Geoffrey Donaldson said Northern Ireland should be part of any future constitutional change.
“Northern Ireland and Wales must be part of this debate as well,” he told BBC.
“As to what the future constitutional arrangements will be - the level of devolution and what happens at Westminster - we will be at the table.”
