More than 90% of people think the salaries of senior staff at the IFA should be made public, according to a poll by farming website Agriland.

The survey also found that more than half (51%) of IFA members who responded to the survey said they intend cancelling their membership.

Yesterday the Agriculture Minister described the €2 million pension for former General Secretary Pat Smith as 'extraordinary'.

The IFA has said that Pat Smith did not stand down last week and was, in effect, fired, amid the controversy over his pay.

There has also been widespread condemnation of the €147,000 salary paid to past President Eddie Downey, who resigned earlier this week.

The association's former chief economist Con Lucey has agreed to publish a report into the IFA's finances next month.

Elections will be held within the next couple of months to fill the top two roles.

However Editor of Agriland Margaret Donnelly says that deadline may prove to be too tight.

She says there is a chance that the IFA will change their rules to allow the existing 60 day limit to be 'pushed out' to allow branches and candidates to get organised:

Meanwhile confidentiality agreements could prevent the salaries of senior staff at the IFA from being revealed, according to a solicitor.

Speaking on Down to Business this morning, solicitor Brian O'Reilly said "the central issue about 'stonewalling' is confidentiality agreements, or confidentiality clauses in agreements. If it's in the agreement, it has to be honoured.

"It can be waived by the consent of all the parties to the agreement. Apparently that does not exist at the moment," he added in relation to the IFA situation.