Eurozone crisis threatens export recovery

The Eurozone crisis is threatening to derail Irish export recovery, according to the Irish Exporters Association.

The group has released an industry review, which shows Irish manufacturing exports to the Eurozone shrank by 5% in the first half of the year.

However, chief executive of the group John Whelan said exports of services were flourishing.

"Services exports have grown by a tremendous 11% in the first half of the year," he said. "It shows that Irish exporters can compete with the best and can grow their martket share extensively."

However, he said manufacturing exporters were suffering, and needed "maximum" support to ensure that they continued to sell their products internationally and hold on to the jos that they currently support.