80% of firms adversely affected by recession — but optimism prevails

FOUR out of every five companies in Ireland have experienced some adverse impact from the economic downturn, but remain upbeat about their performance potential over the next three years.

That is according to cross-border trade and business development body, InterTrade Ireland, which published its latest quarterly business monitor yesterday, after surveying 1,000 companies on both sides of the border during the last quarter of 2008.

“Perhaps surprisingly 75% of businesses were still optimistic, which demonstrates a degree of self-belief in their ability to survive the downturn,” said InterTrade Ireland chief executive Liam Nellis.