Paisley and McGuinness to visit Scotland

The leaders of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government are to visit Edinburgh next week for a round of events involving Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.

Stormont First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness's visit to the Scottish capital will be a follow-up to Mr Salmond's trip to Belfast last year shortly after his election.

It is understood the Democratic Unionist leader and the Sinn Féin MP will visit the Scottish Parliament and take part in a number of other events next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mr Salmond announced the visit after the three of them had taken part in a summit involving British and Irish governments and all the UK devolved administrations.

The Scottish National Party leader, whose administration will host the 11th British Irish Council summit in September, said as well as taking part in meetings like today a lot of work was being done between administrations across the British Isles.

"We must remember that these summit meetings are only part of the organisation," he said.

"There are ministerial meetings which take place on a very, very regular basis discussing (British Irish Council) issues.

"Bilateral meetings also take place and I would be delighted to welcome Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness to Edinburgh next week."