A NO-deal Brexit could send the Republic of Ireland back into recession according to a university economist.
Speaking ahead of the the biggest conference ever held in Cork city, Dr Declan Jordan, director of the Spatial and Regional Economics Research Centre, UCC (University College Cork) believes the Irish economy is in a "precarious position".
“We are just seven months from Brexit, and there is little evidence that the UK government has the political will or ability to agree on a deal with the EU. This leaves the Irish economy in a precarious position," he said.
“The focus in Ireland on Brexit has been on the backstop agreement to prevent a hard border. There is far more at stake, however.
“The latest research shows that, among EU partners, only Irish regions are as exposed as UK regions to a no-deal Brexit. If the UK government continues with the nonsensical approach that the EU needs the UK as much as the UK needs the EU and seriously considers walking away with no deal, the Irish economy will be the major innocent casualty."
UCC will host the Congress of the European Regional Science Association (ERSA) from August 28 to 31, which is set to attract more than 800 delegates and generate €1.4 million for the city.
Previously hosted in cities including Vienna, Lisbon and St Petersburg, the 58th edition of the annual congress will feature cutting-edge research on regional and urban development from across the globe and generate more than 3000 bednights for the city.
