IRELAND, according to the French Agriculture Minister, Mr Phillipe Vasseur, became a net contributor to EU funds for the first time yesterday.
He made his statement after the wife of the Dutch Agriculture Minister, Ms Jozias van Aartsen, made an £80 killing with a £5 bet at Listowel races, where the ministers had been taken following their meeting in Killarney.
The French, it would appear, understand Ireland's relationship with the EU only too well, but no offence was taken by the host the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, who had laid on special facilities for the guests.
It had been a trying day for Mr Yates when the Irish Farmers' Association had rained on his parade by invading the grounds of the Hotel Europe to air their grievances over beef prices.
The Ministers were discussing the problems of EU beef when the farmers made their move onto the grounds of the hotel and, for their safety, the room in which they were meeting was turned into a dungeon.
Steel shutters dropped over the windows for their protection and according to one EU wit, the lights were out all over Europe for the second time this century as the room was plunged into darkness.
One of the knock on effects of the unscheduled visitation of the farmers was that the British Agriculture Minister, Mr Douglas Hogg, decided to cancel his planned visit to Listowel races.
He had been looking forward to attending the event and had agreed to present the prize for the best dressed lady at the races.
The British minister has literally hogged the limelight here in Killarney over the past few days, standing out alone against his Euro colleagues with the kind of well mannered stiff upper lip which one expects from a real Englishman.
But by last evening it appears he and his wife had had enough and fled Killarney for the peace and quiet of London.
However, most of the ministers stayed on for a little more Irish hospitality, which had been laid on in grand style.
They leave here with some reluctance today, not too happy in the knowledge that the next time they meet informally under the Dutch presidency, the location will be a castle in Domburg, which, according to Dutch colleagues, literally means Dumbsville.