FROZEN OUT

ARCTIC conditions and economic gloom have combined to send shivers down the spine of Irish businesses — set to suffer multi-million euro losses as the cold snap continues.

As some schools and colleges remain closed and transport systems creak under the strain of weather conditions, the Small Firms Association (SFA) predicted huge business losses.

SFA director Avine McNally said they had been inundated with firms reporting disruption to business, particularly distribution companies, hard hit by poor driving conditions — making deliveries impossible in some parts of the country. Shops have also been affected.