Exporters hit as business flays UK’s Brexit plan

Irish-owned firms which employ large numbers of people are being hit by the slump in sterling, the latest trade figures suggest.

Business groups here condemned UK prime minister Theresa May’s speech on the UK’s plans for Brexit as being universally bad for Ireland.

Even as she confirmed that her government intended to pursue a hard line in negotiations with Brussels in the looming talks, sterling yesterday rose against the dollar and the euro as investors were placated by her comments that the UK parliament would have some sort of role in reviewing the Brexit proposals.