He was speaking at the launch of his party’s strategy document ‘‘Securing Designated Special Status for the North within the EU’’.

The Government met on Tuesday to discuss its Brexit position and Kenny said he hoped the views of Irish farmers expressed at Monday’s IFA conference in Kildare were conveyed by Minister Michael Creed.

“Irish farmers are worried about the crisis that will happen if a hard border is instituted by Britain leaving the customs union. Taoiseach Enda Kenny must stand firm at the EU council meeting on Saturday, called to discuss the EU’s position for the negotiations with the British government on Brexit,” he said.

Against any hard border

The Sinn Féin agriculture spokesperson added that the people of the north did vote to remain within the European Union.

“We have been working to achieve support for that status across Ireland and in the EU, where our MEPs have secured a joint resolution recognising the unique circumstances of the north, the need to protect the Good Friday Agreement, and against the hardening of the border.

“A Sinn Féin motion in the Dáil won cross-party support for designated special status for the north. Now, the Government has to act by including designated special status in its negotiating position on Saturday at the EU council meeting,” he said.

Creed’s seven-point Brexit plan

Irish farmers depending on Government to get special status for the north

Sinn Féin’s Martin Kenny has said agriculture is the back on the economy north and south and the Government must secure a special status for the north of Ireland.