Breedon Group temporarily shutters most Ireland operations

The AIM-traded firm had said on 26 March that its operations in the country were continuing, pending further guidance.

It said that the Ireland government had introduced restrictions on 27 March, however, requiring all non-essential businesses to close for two weeks from that date.

“We have therefore decided temporarily to suspend production at our RoI sites, including our cement plant at Kinnegad, with the exception of those serving health projects and critical road and utility infrastructure,” the board said in its statement.

It added that it welcomed the government's Wage Subsidy Scheme, which it said should ensure that eligible employees continued to receive a proportion of their pay while they were not working.

“Our priority remains the health and wellbeing of our colleagues, subcontractors, customers and communities and we will continue to respond as appropriate to guidance from the governments and health authorities of both the UK and Ireland.

At 1554 BST, shares in Breedon Group were down 3.18% at 65.45p.