A Belfast business woman working in Spain has told of the uncertainty for ex-pats.
Georgina Pennick, originally from Belfast, has lived and worked in the Costa Blanca for the last 12 years.
The mother of one, who runs a successful travel and property company, employing mainly British migrate workers and gap year students, says the feeling among ex-pats following the referendum is one of uncertainty.
“The feeling at the moment is that here in Spain, is that belts will have to be tightened and projected business will fall away due to the sharp overnight fall in the Sterling against the Euro.
“A week ago, a British family coming to Spain on their holidays could get a lot more for their pound than they can today.
“The talk in Benidorm just two weeks ago was that Spain was going to have an overpopulation of holiday makers due to Home Office security warnings about other affordable destinations.
“Now, with the Brexit result, every hard earned pound that these holiday makers have set aside is worth less.
"Traditionally, holiday destinations in Europe were able to attract young workers, with the Brexit result, these workers can expect to receive less money because the employers will not assume the price of the exchange rate drop", Mrs Pennick said.
However, she added that once "the hysteria and panic ends" she believes ex- pats currently living abroad will be considered under the EU exit negotiations.
"The referendum vote has seen a seismic shift in our lives, there is no doubt about that, it will have ramifications.
"However, those ramifications will not have any impact on us for two years at least and it will be a stuttered, carefully negotiated withdrawal.
"Of course, with Cameron’s resignation, we will have to see who mans the wheel while Britain navigates withdrawal, but barring an absolute dissolution of human decency, I don't see problems for EU nationals, whatever country they may be in and whatever country they may be from", she added.
