Speaking to media at the 85th National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, Co Offaly, former Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said the government needs to maintain a very close relationship with Britain in order to prepare for Brexit and help farmers through any difficulties that may come from it.

"We need to have a very close relationship with Britain so that we understand what’s coming down the tracks, we prepare for that, we manage it and we help farmers through any difficulties that may come from it," he said.

The current minister for housing added that agriculture is "hugely reliant" upon the trading relationship between Ireland and Britain.

"I spent a lot of my time as agriculture minister back and forth making sure we had this seamless market between Ireland and Britain because it’s by far our biggest market for almost all food and drinks exports.

"We need to keep it that way," Coveney continued, "we need to manage that relationship to ensure that in the process of leaving, and post-Brexit, Ireland’s trading relationship with the UK remains strong and predictable."

My colleague Michael Creed is more than capable of giving leadership in that area.

Coveney also praised current minister for agriculture Michael Creed saying he is "doing a lot with regard to Brexit".

"He has established a specialist Brexit unit within the Department of Agriculture. He has also met his counterparts in Europe on a number of occasions."

And in terms of helping farmers get through temporary pricing difficulties such as those seen in the dairy sector this year, Coveney said that Creed is "more than capable of giving leadership in that area".

"Never miss the Ploughing"

Coveney added that he would "never miss the Ploughing Championships".

"This is a great, great occasion, something that’s almost unique to Ireland. I think it's the biggest open gathering in the EU this year, with well over 200,000 people arriving here over the next three days. It is bigger than it has ever been."

Coveney added the success of the Ploughing is for good reason: "It shows belief in rural Ireland, the rural community and in farming. Even though farming has been through a difficult twelve months from an income point of view, particularly in dairy, beef, grain and pigmeat, people are looking forward. It's a real statement of intent from agriculture."

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Live: National Ploughing Championships 2016 in Tullamore