Will the Minister confirm that as a marked contrast to the previous Government, discussions have taken place at the highest level between the Government and the farming organisations and that the latter have now ensured that the existing outstanding land tax due is in the process of being paid together with greater co-operation in the payment of health contributions?

I can confirm what the Deputy is saying but I do so with caution. I would ask farmers to increase their payments of land tax and health contribution arrears. Already there has been an improvement. They should make every effort, like every other sector, particularly those PAYE taxpayers, to pay their health contributions and employment levy. I refer, too, to the self-employed who probably have more tax outstanding than the farming community.