The majority of Northern Ireland companies surveyed in the newly released Annual Review of IntertradeIreland, the North-South trade and business development body, have said that currency volatility and the Republic of Ireland’s adoption of the euro was the greatest barrier to trading with the south.

Seven hundred businesses were surveyed throughout last year, with roughly half and half coming from northern and southern Ireland. The review, which covered the year to December 2000, outlined obstacles to increased trade.

However, while IntertradeIreland said it did not have the remit to tackle the problems highlighted in the survey, chief executive Liam Nelis said the body would continue to lobby on behalf of those concerned businesses.

Mr Nelis also added that any breakdown in devolution would not upset the body’s work, at least not until the end of this year. (MB)