The North cannot afford to be in turmoil, given the progress that has been made in recent years.

That is according to Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who is welcoming the plan to set up an all-island forum to look at the implications of Brexit.

The North South Ministerial Council is meeting in Dublin Castle where the UK’s decision to leave the EU tops the agenda.

But the view of the DUP leader Arlene Foster, who advocated a Leave vote, will be crucial.

Martin McGuinness has said it would be disastrous for the six counties to be forced to leave the EU: “Given the huge responsibilities that we have and the massive agreements that we have made over the course of the last 20 years.

“We can’t afford to bring chaos, we can’t afford to be in turmoil.”