Businesses must make arrangements for the worst possible Brexit outcome

The confirmation that the UK will not seek to stay in the EU’s single market nor the customs union is the worst possible outcome for Ireland.

It will automatically ensure costly cross-border procedures are brought back into play on all exports and imports from the UK and with them punitive tariffs on many goods.

Further costs and procedural difficulties will also come into play for the many exporters who use the UK as a land-bridge to move goods to and from the continent.