Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the effect which the award of a contributory old age pension will have on an existing farm retirement pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16354/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement of the EU Council Regulations 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 to which the participant (and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement) is entitled. The Old Age Contributory Pension is a national retirement pension and consequently its value would be deducted from the Early Retirement Pension.