asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the remuneration level received by the outgoing chairman of ACOT and the outgoing chairman of AFT.

The remuneration level received by the outgoing chairman of ACOT and AFT was £4,000 in respect of each post.

Can the Minister tell us if he has finalised his negotiations with the chairman of AFT and ACOT, as amalgamated?

The matter is still under discussion between officials of my Department and the Department of Finance. I hope that they will reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Has the Minister any ideas as to when they will be concluded?

The discussions are being conducted with reason and understanding on both sides.

The Minister's hatchet man deserves to be well paid. He has spared him an awful lot.

Can the Minister tell us how long do negotiations take on issues such as this? He gave a reply in this House three, four or five months ago that negotiations were continuing. I want to know how long the negotiations will take on this issue.

They will continue until the person concerned, namely, the chairman, and the official with whom he is dealing are satisfied that they have reached a satisfactory conclusion. I would not like to interfere with them.

I am now going to deal with the Private Notice Questions I have received from Deputies Burke, Yates, Harney, Quill, Wyse and Sherlock on the subject matter of probable deferred payment of salaries to employees of the Southern Health Board.