Brexit has dragged Irish business confidence levels to a record low, according to a report, with 46% of companies claiming to have been negatively impacted by the uncertainty surrounding how Britain will leave the EU.

A new AIB report shows sentiment around profits, employment and investment are down dramatically over the past five months, with confidence now at its weakest point in eight years.

A businesswoman who started a firm by using fire hose waste to create ladies handbags and belts was one of the speakers at a major entrepreneurial event.