John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if in the event of a spouse qualifying under the early retirement scheme 2007 and in the event of the other spouse qualifying for an old age pension from the Department of Social and Family Affairs with the consequent reduction of the old age pension from the early retirement pension the aforementioned condition was a stipulation as set down by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34581/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement of the EU Council Regulation under which the Early Retirement Scheme 2007 was 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. This means that the entire value of any such national retirement pension awarded from age 66 must be deducted from the Early Retirement Pension.