Nigel Farage STUNS Irish reporter with shocking forecast – 'Ireland WILL leave the EU!'

The architect of Brexit suggested Irish citizens could soon follow the example of British voters and seek full independence from the European Union. Nigel Farage claimed the growth of "real opposition" to the European project signalled the bloc will collapse within 10 years. The British MEP also reiterated he wants Britain to maintain a close relationship with the "sovereign" nations of Europe once the United Kingdom quits the bloc in less than 60 days. 

Speaking to RTÉ reporter Claire Byrne on Monday, Mr Farage said: "I think ultimately Ireland will leave the European Union, too. I don’t even think the European Union will even exist in 10 years."

As Ms Byrne hit back saying a referendum on Ireland's membership is "not on the card", Mr Farage continued: "Very good. Just as you were all going to vote for the Lisbon Treaty but in the end, you didn’t. You voted against the Lisbon Treaty, you were forced to vote again. The European Union is not going to survive.

 "It was all completely meaningless. All over Europe what you’re seeing is the growth of real opposition for this project. The idea that Europe’s laws should be set and made by a group of unelected old men in Brussels it’s an idea whose time has passed."

In 2008, Irish voters rejected plans for an EU Constitution enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon. When asked to vote again on a modified version of the treaty the following year, Ireland voted in favour of ratification. 

READ MORE: IREXIT: Ireland will be 'DESPERATE' to LEAVE the EU when they see 'land of milk and honey'

Mr Farage added: "I don’t just want the UK of the European Union, I want Europe out of the European Union. I want a Europe of sovereign democratic states working and trading closely together. But this current system will not stand the test of time, believe you me."

The EU registered record 85 percent support rate from Irish citizens during a bloc-wide poll of 27,474 citizens (1,001 Irish). 92 percent also claimed the Republic had benefitted from membership of the European Union.

Ms Byrne said: "The latest poll figures I have on that is 88 percent of people who were asked here in Ireland said they would stay in the EU so that’s not going to happen. And it's not on the cards.

"The Lisbon Treaty was not passed the first time, you are right. It was renegotiated. Ireland wanted some reassurances on sovereignty so what was presented to the Irish people the second time was not, in fact, the same."

Despite the support for the European Union recorded in Ireland, eurosceptic politicians have dialled up efforts to promote Ireland's withdrawal from the bloc by establishing a new party, Irexit Freedom to Party, in September. 

Among the founders of the party was Hermann Kelly, the current director of communications for Mr Farage's Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) bloc in the European Parliament.

Speaking at the launch of his new party, Mr Kelly said: "We can take back control over trade policy, money and borders, and be a free country once again. 

"We were a free country for a short period after we left the last political union we were in, which was the British Empire.

"The relative advantages of being in the EU have decreased and now that we are a net contributor of €400 million a year to old, drunk men who make our laws I think we’re crazy to stay in.”

Former Irish diplomat Ray Basset warned last year Ireland's "slavish" devotion to the EU is threatening to impact efforts to maintain a good relationship with Britain after Brexit.

Ireland has so far remained in step with the EU in reiterating a backstop is necessary to avoid a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Dr Basset said: "This is a very uncomfortable position for Ireland. Whatever the outcome of the Brexit process, Irish and British people will have to live alongside each other.

“This is a time when Ireland should, by all logic, be working hard to ensure a beneficial outcome which restores the excellent relations between the two countries.”