Former taoisigh Bertie Ahern and John Bruton have warned of the negative economic effects Brexit could have on Ireland.
The two men were speaking in London in front of House of Lords committee which is looking into the impact the UK withdrawal from the EU will have on UK-Irish relations.
The former Fine Gael leader and taoiseach Mr Bruton said there was a great sense of loss at the UK's decision, but said "we have to live with it and do the best we can".
He said the economic affect on the Republic is bound to be negative.
Mr Ahern said while a bi-lateral agreement between the two countries was possible, it had to be done, as far as Ireland is concerned, within EU rules.
He also spoke about the prospect of the return of a border and said the Irish Government should appoint its own Minister for Brexit to coordinate and deal with arising issues.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has stressed the need for Ireland to reduce its dependency on UK markets.
Speaking to Senators on the impact of Brexit on product prices in the agricultural sector in Ireland, Michael Creed said the aim of his department was to develop new markets.
Minister Creed said he would be travelling to North Africa and the Gulf regions to provide "as many markets as possible" for Ireland’s Agri Food exports.
The minister said his department is working with the Northern Ireland Agriculture Department on a joint work programme and that he intends to meet with the UK Secretary of State in early December.
Meat producers could see increased tariffs
An economist has warned that Irish meat producers could have to pay very substantial tariffs to access the British market if the UK leaves the single market.
Under World Trade Organisation rules, tariffs on fresh or chilled bovine meat is 12.8% of the value of the product plus €303 per 100kg shipped.
Average WTO tariffs on meat exports are close to 50% and this accounts for 8% of Irish trade with the UK as opposed to 1.6% of total EU-UK trade.
Speaking for the ESRI, Martina Lawless told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Employment that Ireland would be particularly vulnerable to tariffs on trade between the EU and the UK if Britain leaves the single market.
She said application of WTO tariffs would be the most challenging scenario for Ireland. The other two options are membership of EFTA for the UK or a Canadian-style deal.
Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies Ruth Taillon told the committee that Brexit will most likely have a negative effect on the economies on both side of the border as consumer confidence is hit in the UK.
She said that while the effects of Brexit will be felt throughout the island of Ireland, it will be most obvious in border counties in both jurisdictions.
Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs Dan O'Brien said it would be extremely difficult to do anything to mitigate the effects of Brexit on Ireland, as it is a small open economy, adding that the best mitigation is no Brexit.
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