Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the early retirement pension of a person (details supplied) in County Clare has been reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3506/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named is a participant in the 2000 early retirement scheme introduced under EU Council Regulation 1257/1999, which she entered in joint management with her husband. It is a requirement of this Council regulation that any national retirement pension to which a scheme participant — and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement — becomes entitled must be deducted from the early retirement pension.

The husband of the person named was awarded a contributory old age pension with effect from 18 June 2004. In accordance with the requirements of the scheme and the governing regulation, therefore, the amount of his old age pension must be deducted from his wife's early retirement pension.