EU rules for truckers should be relaxed to keep the supply chains running smoothly on the road and on the ferries during the Covid-19 crisis, Freight Transport Association Ireland has said.

Changes proposed by the British government for a points-based permit scheme for EU migrants to get work after Brexit has sparked widespread concern from business groups here.

Irish business leaders and analysts have hailed the prospects for the UK approving the withdrawal agreement next month but warn that the risk of Brexit disruption may be just delayed for a year.

The head of the business group that represents truckers has warned that final Brexit negotiations face another cliff edge next summer if any transition deal is not extended.

Business group Isme is advising member companies in the frontline of a crash-out Brexit at Halloween to immediately prepare staff for potential redundancies.

Irish shares and Government bond yields fell today as a political manoeuvre by UK prime minister Boris Johnson was seen as boosting the chances of a crash-out Brexit at Halloween and an early British election.

The Brexit crisis could be cooled somewhat if the EU and UK were to immediately extend a transit or connectivity accord beyond its expiry date at the end of December, the head of the Irish hauliers business group has said.

Dublin’s lead in the race to attract financial services firms switching their EU operations from London after Brexit has narrowed, with Luxembourg now running the capital close as the relocation city of choice.

The Revenue will start talking to truck drivers at Dublin and Rosslare ports from today about the potential huge delays and disruption to trade if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal.

Sterling soared against the euro and the dollar as fears that the UK will crash out of the EU receded.

As the Westminster drama unfolds in the coming hours, the stark truth is that we do not know what route Brexit is going to take.

Uncertainty remains the main concern for the freight, distribution and logistics sector as Brexit Day, on March 29, gets ever closer, writes Aidan Flynn.

Urgent Government action is needed to tackle rising insurance costs or risk significant job losses in the transport industry.

Over the last year, and it has seemed like that long, we’ve read several articles on the proposed new postal codes. 

A group representing frontline emergency staff has warned lives will be lost unless the Government reverses its decision on a new national postcode system due to be rolled out next spring.