REPRESENTATIVES of Northern Ireland business groups emerged from yesterday's meeting with Arlene Foster unconvinced by the DUP's alternative to the withdrawal agreement.
Relations between the DUP and the region's main business bodies, including the Ulster Farmers Union, have been strained in recent days over their divergent assessments of the EU-UK Brexit plan.
The DUP is opposed to the withdrawal agreement's backstop, which it argues will create a so-called border down the Irish Sea with goods moving between the north and Britain subjected to regulatory checks.
The business bodies, which include the CBI, NI Retail Consortium (NIRC), Retail NI and Manufacturing NI, last week travelled to Downing Street for a meeting with Theresa May in No 10.
Ahead of the meeting with the prime minister, DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson described the sectoral spokespeople as as "puppets of the Northern Ireland Office".
After yesterday's meeting at Stormont, Mrs Foster said she had outlined why she believes the withdrawal agreement would be "bad for the long-term Northern Ireland economy".
The DUP leader, who claimed the media had sought to "drive a wedge" between her party and the business community, stressed that the deal would see the EU setting regulations for Northern Ireland businesses but in the absence of any "democratic input".
"It is clear there is no enthusiasm for this withdrawal agreement in the House of Commons," the former first minister said.
"Businesses want certainty therefore should not waste the next few weeks in advance of the meaningful vote, especially when many parliamentarians have already made up their minds to reject the deal."
Mrs Foster said the time between now and the Westminster's vote on the agreement should be used to secure a "better deal which works for the UK and Northern Ireland".
But it appears the DUP leader failed to change the business leaders' minds.
Stephen Kelly of Manufacturing NI said he was relieved to hear assurances that the DUP was opposed to a no deal scenario but left the meeting not knowing what was planned if Westminster rejects the deal.
"There was no suggestion of what a better deal looks like and no clear route to how a better deal would be negotiated," he said.
NIRC director Aodhán Connolly said the north's needs could not be met by a "disastrous no deal Brexit".
"With higher costs and half the discretionary income of GB households, we cannot afford to absorb the catastrophic cost rises that a cliff edge no deal would bring," he said.
Asked directly whether Mrs Foster had apologised for Mr Wilson's comment, CBI regional director Angela Magowan said: "She did say that things get said in the heat of the moment, and not to be taking them too seriously.
"We haven't taken that comment too seriously, so I think we'll all just try to put that to bed and move forward."
