Ireland gets nervous at prospect of 'Brexit' as election nears

Rarely has a UK election been of greater interest to Ireland: a Tory win could be catastrophic for the Irish economy if it triggered Britain's exit from the EU

A general election in Britain is always watched closely on the other side of the Irish Sea, not least because of the tumultuous political history linking the two islands. But never has an UK election been of greater interest to Ireland's business community, amid fears that if the Conservatives win, it could spell catastrophe for the country's economy.

A win for David Cameron would trigger a referendum on membership of the European Union, which if it results in a British exit would send shockwaves through Ireland's economy. Each week there is a1bn (730m) in trade between the two countries, supporting about 400,000 jobs.