Suggestions that thousands of jobs in Clare could be impacted by a hard Brexit have been downplayed.
Figures compiled by IBEC, and published by the Irish Farmers Journal, show 17.5% of all jobs in Clare will be impacted in the event of tighter border controls between Ireland and Britain.
Clare FM’s James Mulhall reports:
A year on from Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, we’re still none the wiser on how Brexit is going to affect Ireland.
But the warning remains the same – we must prepare for the worst case scenario which, for Ireland, would be a hard Brexit.
Figures released by IBEC show that 17.5 percent – almost one in six – jobs in this county may be affected – which is ahead of the national rate of 13 percent.
The agri-food industry is reported to be the one most in danger, with 8 percent of jobs in that industry under threat – followed by 4 percent of jobs in accommodation and tour operating.
Thomas Hubert is a news correspondent with the Irish Farmers Journal – he says areas like Clare are particularly exposed.
There are already indications of a Brexit impact, with sterling weakening against the Euro.
This is a factor in the 6.4 per cent drop in British visitors to Ireland in the past year.
Despite this, secretary of Kilkee Tourism John Williams is optimistic that sterling will stabilise – and that this will bring British tourists back to Ireland and to Clare.
