Enda Kenny has been thanked by the Scottish first minister - after speaking on her behalf at an EU summit last night.

The Taoiseach says he reiterated Scotland's position that it "shouldn't be dragged out of the EU".

The leaders of the 27 remaining EU members are this evening returning back to their capitals after two days of talks on the EU's future without Britain.

But speaking to reporters afterwards, Enda Kenny revealed that in last night's talks - which had included the UK's prime minister David Cameron - he spoke on Scotland's behalf:

Nicola Sturgeon herself travelled to Brussels today to seek a series of meetings with Brussels-based EU leaders about Scotland's future within the EU.

She told journalists this evening she was more than happy with Kenny's involvement:

The comments do raise an interesting diplomatic issue, however.

Enda Kenny spoke on Scotland's behalf at a time when the UK's Prime Minister, David Cameron, was also present to do so.

Separately this evening Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, said he did not accept that Northern Ireland could not have a special status within the EU once the UK pulls out.

His comments came after the UK's Northern Secretary, Theresa Villiers - who supported Brexit - said there could be no special status for Northern Ireland.

"I believe that the mandate that we got during the course of the referendum to remain puts us in a very special place,"he told the BBC.