It seems the Department of Agriculture and the IFA have finally brokered a compromise agreement regarding the crisis fund for tillage farmers, but not without an exhausting week of talks.

It’s over a week since the sit-in ended, and last Wednesday the two sides began discussions to amend the package to everyone’s satisfaction.

Minister Creed and IFA president Joe Healy kickstarted the process, with the baton passed to Liam Dunne and the IFA tillage committee and senior officials from the Department. Wednesday was never likely to see a conclusion; feelings were running high after the six-day sit-in. However, it took three days of further talks – Friday, Monday and Tuesday – before agreement was reached.

If it took this long to conclude an aid package worth €1.5m or so for a few hundred farmers, is there any chance Brexit negotiations will be concluded before the end of the century? Perhaps we should all look for Brexit negotiation roles (paid, not voluntary, of course). I think I would be ideal for the role of chief negotiator for post-Brexit harmonisation of craft-beer classification, with obligatory tasting conferences in Cancun, the Seychelles and Melbourne.

County councillors will have to pay their own way.