THE UK government has been told to “stick their border where the sun doesn’t shine” by Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada.

Speaking at a selection convention where she was chosen to run again in the upcoming European Parliament elections, she said that Ireland needs a Sinn Féin voice in Europe to defend against the impact of Brexit.

“In the wake of the Brexit vote, it was Sinn Féin MEPs who secured protections for the Good Friday Agreement.

“It was Sinn Féin MEPs who pushed for special status, for the North when others baulked at the idea.

“It was Sinn Féin MEPs who championed the democratic decision of the people of the North to remain.

“And it was Sinn Féin MEPs who used the platform of the European Parliament to tell the Tory government, in no uncertain terms, that they can stick their border where the sun doesn’t shine,” she said.

She also used her speech to reiterate her call for a referendum on Irish unity, the cornerstone pledge of her failed Presidential campaign last year.

“Partition affects us all, our country works better together and that is why it is so important that we are not only preparing for Brexit but preparing for a coming referendum on Irish unity — a referendum we will see and a referendum we will win,” she said.

Ms Ní Riada said that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are pursuing an agenda that is giving away Irish sovereignty and sacrificing ordinary people’s rights in favour of big business.

“They follow a political agenda which protects multinational corporations over the rights of ordinary citizens and over the interests of small businesses.

“The creeping militarisation of the EU, aided and abetted by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, will see us committed to spending more and more money on defence while schools and hospitals crumble, while roads degrade to a dangerous state, while public services are either privatised or cut,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin will hold a selection convention for the Cork City South-West ward in the Togher Community Centre this Thursday, where sitting councillor Henry Cremin and newcomer Eolan Ring are to be ratified as candidates by members.