Vol. 548 No. 2
188 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason persons (details supplied) had payments under the early retirement scheme terminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4653/02]
It is a requirement of the EU regulation governing the early retirement scheme that the pension can only be paid as a supplement to any national retirement pension payable to the participant and, as in the case of the persons named, their spouse or partner in joint management. The persons named are each receiving non-contributory old age pensions, the combined value of which exceeds the amount of the early retirement pension. As a result, my Department had to discontinue payment of the EU farm retirement pension with effect from 1 December 2001.
