§ MR. BARRIE (Londonderry, N.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what was the total amount of the remuneration paid to the hon. Member for East Wicklow, recently employed as arbitrator in the case arising out of breaches of an agreement entered into between the Department and Antony Mackey, who conducted a peat-works experiment at Castleconnell, County Limerick; over how many days the arbitration extended; what was the rate of the arbitrator's fee; and from what source was the payment made by the Department.
§ MR. CHERRYMy right hon. friend the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture informs me that the total amount of the fees paid to the arbitrator in this case was £78 15s., being for five days hearing in the country at the rate of fifteen guineas a day. The Department are advised that this is a very reasonable fee for a practising barrister acting in this capacity. The payment was made from the Endowment Fund of the Department.