Government must explain protections for most exposed industry post-Brexit

Fianna Fáil has demanded that the Government must immediately explain how it will protect industries most exposed if a hard Brexit occurs after it emerged a series of sectoral analysis reports, due last year, will not now be published until summertime.

Fianna Fáil Brexit spokesman Stephen Donnelly insisted a clear, cross-departmental protection plan needs to be made public now in response to a Government report, due today, which will suggest a hard Brexit could cost €18bn and 20,000 jobs by 2030.

Under plans first put forward by former taoiseach Enda Kenny and again last year by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the Government was scheduled to draw up and release at least five separate sectoral analysis reports on the impact Brexit will have on the most vulnerable sectors in this country.