UKIP Leader Nigel Farage says the Taoiseach’s intervention in the UK’s EU Referendum was not appropriate and is unlikely to have had a major impact. 

Farage made the remarks to The Pat Kenny Show in an interview on the eve of today’s historic vote, which could see Britain retreat from Europe. 

“No I don’t (think it was appropriate),” Farage said. “It was interesting, when Obama came to say all sorts of nasty things to us, it actually led to a Brexit bounce.

“I don’t know what the effect of Kenny’s intervention has been but, you know what, this assumption that we get from Irish politicians: ‘Oh, the Irish love the EU’ - really?,” he asked. 

The 52-year-old former MEP also suggested that if Ireland was to hold a similar vote, there would be a strong chance of the country leaving the Union.

“You’ve rejected the Nice Treaty. You’ve rejected the Lisbon Treaty. If there was a full, free and fair referendum on leaving the EU in Ireland, it would be a very interesting debate.”

"We are probably friendlier than we've ever been"

Mr Farage, who has not yet said whether or not he will continue his political career if there is a Remain vote, also claimed that a ‘normal’ relationship between the Republic and Northern Ireland would continue after a Brexit. 

“There’s no question about one thing. The economic relationship between Ireland and the UK is of great benefit to both,” he said. 

“We do a lot of business with each other. I also think, politically, we are probably friendlier than we’ve ever been. So it’s a good strong relationship, and we’ll go on doing things just as normal.”