European Parliamentary candidate Peter Casey says Europe must provide emergency financial support for Irish SME’s to overcome the negative impacts of Brexit.

Mr Casey says the leaders of small to medium-sized business across the Midlands-North-West constituency want assurances that they won’t be left to pick up the pieces if Britain crashes out of the EU.

Mr Casey was speaking after attending Tuesday morning’s Chambers Ireland Election Hustings, hosted by Meath Chamber of Commerce in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan.

He said: “Many business leaders across rural Ireland, the border region and midlands deserve the support of the EU to ease the pain of Brexit.

“Countless reports and a bombardment of news articles on best and worst-case scenarios paint bleak Brexit pictures for our SMEs. Regardless of the outcome, the EU must be ready to step in to ensure our businesses continue to thrive.

“I will be a strong business voice in lobbying for support of our SMEs by Europe post-Brexit. So many of our businesses depend on their strong trading relationships with the UK. Any negative impact on these relationships must be addressed by way robust financial support from the EU.

“Furthermore, it is now more important than ever that the EU continues to expand SME-friendly trade agreements in other regions. Improving global trade channels to help off-set damage caused by Brexit will be a key driver for businesses which stand to suffer loss of trade with our nearest neighbour.

“Ideally, Ireland wants Britain within Europe, but if that’s not possible, then Europe must work as hard for Ireland as we do for it.

“Ensuring the right conditions for our businesses will boost living standards, increase tax revenues, and generate more jobs.”