TAMS payments are "up and running," Minister Creed said after a debate on Brexit and Irish agriculture organised by Muskerry Macra in Macroom, Co Cork, on Friday.

"We were slow to get them up and running, but I did give a commitment that they would be operating by the end of July and they are," he added. The minister acknowledged that the number of applications for payment as well as the requirement to have a tax clearance certificate and a farm safety course completed had delayed the process.

"The numbers are small yet but we're making payments," he said.

He also said there was a commitment in the programme for government to re-examine income averaging rules for tax purposes as a way of dealing with volatility.

Listen to an interview with Minister Creed in our podcast below:

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Officials play down consequences of Brexit on Irish agri-food trade