Michael Noonan: We have contingency plans if UK leaves EU

Ireland has contingency plans to protect the economy if the outcome of the Brexit referendum result is Britain leaving the EU.

That was the message from Finance Minister Michael Noonan last night as pollsters said the outcome was too tight to call, with preliminary details emerging from the vote.

Government ministers here were hopeful the Remain campaign had won and were encouraged after sterling rose to a record level for 2016.