Noonan fears British opt-out will hurt Ireland

FINANCE Minister Michael Noonan fears our financial services industry may be at risk from Britain’s opt-out from closer EU integration.

Mr Noonan also fears that damage for Ireland could go deeper without its closest neighbour at the EU negotiating table.

The Government is trying to limit diplomatic damage after Britain last week refused to join the EU’s other 26 countries in working towards a new fiscal union, leaving Dublin more exposed to German and French calls for tighter financial regulation.