High street chemist Boots, which released results for the half year to the end of September yesterday, said it was pleased with the contribution from its 24 stores in the Republic. It also said it had spent £7.1 million in the six-month period integrating the Hayes, Conyngham & Robinson business, acquired in January and Connors, which it bought in April.

The company did not release separate figures for its Irish operations but said it had great confidence in the future of its Irish businesses.

The company said bad weather, higher costs, plus more cautious consumers had affected the first-half and underlying profits were flat at £251.4 million sterling (£279 million).