Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress she has made on the implementation of the report by the Oireachtas joint committee on the early retirement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26460/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The joint committee's examination of the early retirement scheme provided a welcome opportunity to air a wide range of issues and this in itself has been helpful in clarifying the position. Earlier this month I provided a detailed response to the report. Regrettably, there are a number of the committee's recommendations I have not been able to accept. They are precluded by elements of the EU regulations under which the current scheme and its predecessor are operated. When the same issues were raised by retired farmers with the European Commission, the Commission concluded that my Department was operating the scheme correctly. However, the committee made other recommendations which I am still considering.