Fishing rights off the coast of northern Ireland may be affected by a hard exit

The Republic of Ireland will face potential disruption of medical supplies, customs delays, the loss of fishing rights and a ban on the transport of horses to the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a paper drawn up in Whitehall has warned.

Michael Gove’s Brexit operations committee has compiled a list of the issues that Dublin will face in a no-deal Brexit, to be used as “leverage” during last-ditch discussions in the event that negotiations break down.

The Times understands that issues raised by ministers include:

• The fact that 60 per cent of Ireland’s medicines come from the UK.

• Customs checks causing lengthy delays on the bridge to Holyhead, from where freight traffic travels to Ireland.

• The potential loss of