Mary Lou McDonald says any talk of customs checks on or near the Irish border is "nothing short of political vandalism".
The Sinn Féin president and the party's deputy leader Michelle O'Neill are in Dublin today for an Ard Comhairle meeting on the latest developments on Brexit.
Earlier this week, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that some checks on goods and animals may need to take place near the Irish border in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
He stressed that avoiding the return of a hard border is a priority for the Government "in all circumstances".
Deputy McDonald said a hardening of the border is completely unacceptable and the Taoiseach's recent border comments are 'extremely unhelpful'.
She argued: "I think any talk of checks on the island or any talk of a hardening of the border on the island of Ireland is nothing short of political vandalism.
"I think the Taoiseach needs to stand up and be counted - now is not the moment to soften our line or to lose our concentration."
She added: "We have all agreed, right across Irish life and politics, that there can be no damage to the Good Friday Agreement... that there can be no damage to our all-Ireland economy... that there can be no hardening of the border.
"Now we need to stand firm on that ground - that is the duty and the job of An Taoiseach in his dealings with all of our international allies, European and otherwise, and certainly in his dealings with Boris Johnson and the British state."
Westminster
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Darnford Farm in Banchory near Aberdeen on Friday. Picture by: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/PA ImagesMeanwhile, the political impasse in the UK is continuing after a dramatic week of developments.
Today, there are reports that some MPs say they're prepared to take Boris Johnson to court if he ignores parliament's new law which aims to block a no-deal Brexit.
The bill - which would require the prime minister to seek a further three-month extension if no deal is agreed by mid-October - passed the House of Lords yesterday and is now set to become law early next week.
However, Boris Johnson has expressed strong opposition to the prospect of any extension beyond the current Brexit deadline on 31st October.
According to the Daily Telegraph, he wrote to his party's MPs saying parliament had "just passed a law that would force me to beg Brussels for an extension to the Brexit deadline... this is something I will never do."
Sky News, meanwhile, reports that opposition MPs and recently-expelled Tories opposed to a no-deal scenario have assembled a legal team and are prepared to go to court to enforce the law.
Opposition parties yesterday agreed to block the British government's latest bid to call an election when it comes before the House of Commons on Monday.
While the likes of Labour and the SNP have insisted they're ready and eager for an election, they have now indicated they'll wait until a Brexit delay is guaranteed before agreeing to an early public vote.
