Emma Little-Pengelly took a swipe at the former Fine Gael leader after he said that Irish unity would become “centre stage” if Reform leader Nigel Farage was elected British prime minister

Most voters said they would like to see a vote issue take place “in the next 10 years”, at 42%.

Mr Lewis also suggested in the House of Commons that the comments could be explained because of the success of Sinn Féin in opinion polls in Ireland

Two citizens’ assemblies should be held in Northern Ireland and the Republic to lay the groundwork for a border poll which could be held in the next decade, a Fine Gael TD has said.