NI leaders divided in their reaction to Brexit vote

The Post Office says there has been "an unusually high number" of applications for an Irish passport from people in Northern Ireland, following the UK's vote to leave the EU.

While the UK as a whole opted to back 'leave' in the referendum, Northern Ireland voted by a margin of 56 to 44 percent to remain in the EU.

The Irish Department of Foreign affairs has also reported a rise in inquiries over eligibility for Irish passports.

Earlier it was shown that Northern Ireland had seen a spike in online searches for information on Irish passports.

“From looking at Google Trends, we can see that in the UK there's been a significant spike (+100%) in the last 24 hours of people searching for the term,” Michael Wilson, digital data analyst with Glowmetrics in Belfast told UTV.

“And by the looks of it, it's been almost entirely generated by people within Northern Ireland."

Amid the uncertainty regarding the future for Northern Ireland post-Brexit, questions are being asked about the impact on migrant workers from the EU and the businesses that rely on them.

Sarah Clarke reports from Dungannon in Co Tyrone, where several large food processing companies employ significant numbers of migrant workers.

Back in the studio, Political Editor Ken Reid and Jamie Delargy discuss the timeframe in which changes may begin to take effect.

The referendum result has sent shockwaves right to the heart of Europe and the European Parliament.

As Judith Hill reports, talks will now focus on how the UK's exit from the EU will happen.

As the fall-out from the UK’s vote to leave the EU continues, questions remain over the impact on Northern Ireland – and particularly its border with the Republic of Ireland.

The Brexit decision comes despite Northern Ireland voting to remain.

UTV’s Deputy Political Editor Tracey Magee reports on an historic day.

Meanwhile, Gareth Wilkinson is on the Tyrone/Donegal border - in an area where dual currency is the norm for neigbouring towns like Strabane and Lifford - to look at the potential impact.

Marc Mallett reports from Newry where the border issue also has implications.

And UTV’s Political Editor Ken Reid and Business Editor Jamie Delargy have been in the studio to discuss the "political earthquake".

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has called on the Irish government to support Northern Ireland interests in negotiations following the UK vote to leave the EU.

“This will be a devastating blow potentially to our economy and to our society that’s why people in Northern Ireland voted to stay in, that’s why people in Scotland voted to stay in and that’s why young people voted to stay in.

“We’re saying very, very clearly that there should not be any physical or metaphorical border put up across this island we have to make sure that we still allow the freedom of movement people and goods and business right across this island.

“That’s why we’re calling on the Irish government to make sure that that happens in these negotiations, the Irish government is in a very strong position, they have to be a good friend to Britain but more importantly, they have to look after the people of this island.”

The party has called for the Irish government to convene an all-party forum for political parties on both sides of the border to consider the issues and implications arising from the result.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said a second independence referendum is now “on the cards”.

The country rejected independence in the first poll in 2014, however Ms Surgeon said there are now grounds to hold another vote.

She said it would be “democratically unacceptable” for Scotland to be taken out of the European Union “against its will” and will now explore “all options”.

The people of Scotland voted in favour of remaining in the EU.

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There has been a surge in the number of people in Northern Ireland searching for information online about Irish passports during the EU referendum.

“From looking at Google Trends, we can see that in the UK there's been a significant spike (+100%) in the last 24 hours of people searching for the term,” Michael Wilson, digital data analyst with Glowmetrics in Belfast told UTV.

“And by the looks of it, it's been almost entirely generated by people within Northern Ireland."

You can see the trends page here.