John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the contributory pensions of both spouses are deducted from the ERS pension when a farmer in the ERS in joint management cases reaches the age of 66; the further reason additions to the contributory pension are deducted for example invalidity allowance, living alone allowance, blind persons allowance and so on (details supplied); her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3870/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement of the EU Council Regulations (2079/92 and 1257/99) under which the 1994 and 2000 early retirement schemes were introduced that the early retirement pension can be paid only as a supplement to any national retirement pension that the participant, and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement, receive. This means that the value of any national retirement pension payable must be deducted from the early retirement pension.

It has been determined in consultation with the European Commission that the following pensions are national retirement pensions — old age contributory pension, old-age non-contributory pension, widow-widower's contributory pension, widow-widower's non-contributory pension, retirement pension, invalidity pension and blind person's pension. A national retirement pension may comprise a personal allowance, an adult dependant allowance, child dependant allowances and a living alone allowance. The total amount payable constitutes the national retirement pension, as a spouse and children do not have independent entitlement to the pension. Therefore, it is the total amount of the national retirement pension that must be deducted from the early retirement pension and not just the personal rate.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the parts of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food's report on the ERS she intends implementing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3871/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am still considering certain aspects of the joint committee's report on the early retirement scheme and I expect to be in a position to make announcements in due course. A number of the committee's recommendations are, as I explained in my detailed response to the report, precluded by the EU regulations under which the current scheme and its predecessor are operated.