Coveney warns firms over crash-out Brexit as sterling jumps again on hopes DUP will soften opposition to some sort of deal

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has urged firms to brace for a hard Brexit, saying there will be “huge strain on the economy” if no deal is agreed between the EU and the UK.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said food and drink firms were particularly vulnerable to the fallout of a no-deal Brexit, but said he did not believe there would be shortages of supplies if such a scenario played out.