Commenting on the vote to remove a ‘no-deal’ scenario, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), said:

“NI Chamber welcomes the result of the vote however a disorderly withdrawal from the EU is still a clear and present danger.

“The vote is not legally binding and only relevant if it is followed up with legislative action by the UK Parliament. The reality is without concrete action, businesses still face an uncontrolled exit that they don’t want nor are ready for.

“Extending Article 50 is now a necessity, but it brings a fear of endless uncertainty for businesses. Our members need a clear timeline for what happens next and in the intervening period we advise them to continue to plan for a ‘no-deal’ outcome.”