19/09/2014 BBC Newsline

A debate has started on what extra powers Stormont could have following

the outcome of the Scottish Referendum on independence.

Sinn Fein is calling for more fiscal control, but the First Minister is

stressing the Executive needs to prove it can use the powers it has.

On the eve of the referendum, one of Londonderry's most famous

landmarks was temporarily renamed as Derry nationalists hoped

their Scottish counterparts would put a dent in the UK.

But when the results came in it soon became clear that Unionists in East

Belfast and elsewhere had no need to haul down the Saltires which flutter

Common sense has prevailed. We moved to an exciting opportunity for we

are not focusing simply on the wishes of the people of Scotland,

But on what is good for Northern Ireland, for Wales, and for England.

Democracy is alive and well and from my perspective, I just wish to God

that we had had something like this rather than the mayhem we have had

for 30 years. With Westminster promising more devolution, most

politicians want control over corporation tax, but there is

disagreement over a wider responsibility for taxation, or

fiscal powers. We should have the power to reduce our corporation tax.

That is something that David Cameron was not prepared to decide on until

after the Scottish referendum. There you are, a large measure of

agreement on that. What we need to do is find a large measure of

agreement on what extra powers we think can benefit the people we

I would always be more impressed when people ask about the transfer

of fiscal powers if they have shown competence in dealing with the

powers we have. 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 that they have.

With the debate across the water moving increasingly towards

English votes on English laws, it is clear there will be implications not

just for the future powers at the Stormont Assembly but the role MPs

elected here will play at Westminster.

In terms of how we function as MPs it is important we are engaged in

around this. Whilst we have technically devolved powers to

Northern Ireland over welfare reform, the actual in terms of

finance I made at Westminster, so we need to be engaged in that process,

even though the decisions at Westminster technically only apply

With so much at stake onlookers will be keeping a BDI on the future of

While the politicians have a lot to consider about the next step in

devolution, we've been talking to people on the streets to get their

thoughts on the Scottish no vote and any knock on effect on their lives.

There is a lot to chew over. Now the votes are counted, the UK stays

whole, but the relationship between its parts will change. Men

Marshall predict challenges as well as opportunities. Farmers here get

more from subsidies than their Scottish counterparts.

Redistribution might be part of the price of Scotland sticking with the

union. This has been a major concern, that because of our

payments in Northern Ireland, Scots felt they were disadvantaged and

entitled to a portion of this money. We would have concerns that the flat

The question is, what are the implication of last night's

No vote, whether there will be a rebalancing of the relationships

between various parts of the UK? And more importantly, whether the money

will be divided up differently. Glasgow, the biggest constituency,

voted yes for independence. We came to Glasgow Street, here in north

Belfast, to find out what they made of the No vote and whether they have

It is not bedecked with flags but if you

If we were to start demanding more things

they might say, we have given you enough and then Northern Ireland

might be in big trouble. All of those promises cost money. Who is

? The rest of the UK. Just to keep the Scottish people

The more we have to invest, the quicker we can grow our organisation

for the people employed here, but for the benefit of the wider

community and the outlook for jobs as well. The Scottish independence

ship may have sailed, but it leaves a changed Union in its wake.

Earlier Nigel Dodds from the DUP and Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Fein

spoke to Donna and they gave their reaction to the idea of a border

poll here similar to the Scottish referendum.

We would be keen to see a border poll happening. I was interested to

hear Ruth Gray talking about Trident and things like that that she knows

are decided in Westminster and they have more powers than us now and

will have. We need to see a situation where we're having that

discussion. We recognise that when a border poll happens then on a seven

year period after that, so we would be very positive, but let's have the

debate. We shouldn't be afraid of having those discussions. Nigel

Dodds, it would put the matter to bed? There is less support for

breaking up the Union in Northern Ireland than there is in Scotland.

It has never been more settled. Many, many nationalists agree that

the way forward is Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom with a

devolved settlement that works at Stormont. But this is all a

distraction. Sinn Fein were saying that by 2016 they would united

Ireland. The fact of the matter, it would be a massive distraction. What

people out there want, we know the result, we don't fear the result. It

would be a massive source of instability and what people are

looking for are answers from politicians about day-to-day

affairs, about health, education, jobs, etcetera. Let's get on with

the real work that politicians, instead of going down this Sinn Fein

wish-list fantasy politics of a united Ireland. It is not going to

happen. It won't happen. Lots more to discuss and we will have to end

it here. I'm sure we will have it on many programmes in the months and

years ahead. It's Culture Night tonight in many

towns and cities across Northern Ireland. The biggest event is in

Belfast where the streets around Cathedral Quarter have been filled

with singing, dancing, music and performance art. Roads were closed

as festival goers were treated to more than 240 free events. It's the

sixth year of Culture Night in the city and organisers say it's the

biggest yet. People have a brilliant time. You

don't get stuff like this. You don't get to close the roads. You don't

get to have 240 free events like within a two minute walk of each

other, you know. So it is a great celebration of everything that's

brilliant about this city. Rugby and in the Pro 12 Ulster have

won away to the Cardiff Blues by 26-9. Ulster led at half-time thanks

to four Paddy Jackson penalties and extended their advantage in the

second-half with converted tries Now a look at the weekend weather

forecast. Here's Angie Phillips. Hello. Good evening, we have a few

showers around, but once they go, we have high pressure in dharj. Charge.

It will brighten up. Descent spells of sunshine around, but it will

start to feel fresher. Through tonight, we have a weak weather

front moving its way in from the north-west. That will bring rain

from the north-west moving south-east wards through the night.

Probably clearing most parts by the time we get to dawn tomorrow morning

and probably not amounting to a great deal really. It is a mild

night. Still a fair amount of cloud in behind the rain. Temperatures

should settle at 12 Celsius to 10 Celsius. Tomorrow is dry, good for

the outdoors. We will find the cloud breaks up quickly and it the

brighten up and the sunshine will come through as it will across parts

of the Republic of Ireland. For Southern Scotland and for the rest

of England and Wales, more cloud here generally. Still a few heavy

showers for East Anglia. But even here, it will start to brighten up a

little bit through the day and temperatures, although not as high

as recent days, they should get into the low 20s. Back to Northern

Ireland for the afternoon, well it looks descent really. Some descent

spells of sunshine, but of course, the breeze tomorrow will be coming

in from the north. That's a fresher direction. 14 Celsius, 15 Celsius on

the north coast. 17 Celsius and possibly 18 Celsius in the south. A

chillier night tomorrow night. Sunday and Monday still look dry

with bright or sunny spells. That's it for now. You can keep up-to-date

with news online and follow the programme on Facebook and Twitter.

Our next television news is at 6.30pm tomorrow evening. I'm back

with that. From everyone here on the BBC Newsline team, take

Paisley Paisley was a great man for lighting the fuse and scampering off.

Ulster shall remain firm til the very end!

He was a conviction-led politician. No surrender!

He will be remembered ultimately for the peace and not the schism.