Beef finishers who apply to the new €50m beef scheme could be receiving payments from the scheme in the autumn or winter, according to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

The Gaeilgeoir in The Dealer had a good chuckle at the minister’s reply on when payments would be sent to farmers’ accounts.

Asked to respond as Gaeilge and in English, Creed said he hopes to get payments out “roimh deireadh an bliain, b’fhedir timpeall mí na Samhna” – “before the end of the year, maybe around November” when translated literally.

Two ticks later, in English, he said in the autumn, “September-October” time.

So farmers can look forward to getting autumn payments in the winter. Which wouldn’t be anything new.