European Chamber of Ireland plans Brexit diplomatic mission

The European Chamber of Ireland is to go on the diplomatic offensive to ensure key European Union decision-makers in continental Europe understand the challenges of Brexit to Irish business.

The trade body begins a two-day Brexit engagement mission in Brussels from Wednesday. It plans a series of meetings to discuss issues of concern with the European Commission and MEPs from Ireland and Germany.

The chamber delegation will also have separate meetings with German EU commissioner Günter Oettinger and Irish EU commissioner Phil Hogan.

"Ireland and the UK trade over €1 billion worth of goods and services every week and over €60 billion per annum," said chamber president Jack Golden. "As business leaders in Ireland, we will be underlining our concerns about the very real Brexit-related difficulties faced by businesses."

Why do the Irish still owe more than the Greeks?

---

Biggest slump in German factory orders since 2009

---

Fall in UK non-food sales due to inflation and cautious spending

---

NTMA to sell up to €1.25bn of bonds this week

---

According to Mr Golden: “As the EU member state most connected with Britain, Ireland is at particular risk from the market volatility that Brexit is likely to bring in its wake and needs the full support of its EU partners to mitigate the impact of the UK leaving the EU.

"We wish to ensure that Ireland's special circumstances are recognised in Brussels, Berlin and the other EU capitals and taken into account in the upcoming Brexit negotiations."