Fears for jobs as ‘hard Brexit’ looms

The Government has been urged to give thousands of businesses special funding after Britain confirmed ‘hard Brexit’ plans that could cause widespread job losses across Ireland.

Opposition parties urged the protectionist move last night amid fears thousands of jobs are at stake after British prime minister Theresa May revealed some details of her Brexit plans.

Her admission that Britain will leave the single market, and possibly the EU customs union, has raised the prospect of tariffs being slapped on Irish exports and disruption to Irish trade.