IFA seeks meeting with O Cuív over denial of pensions to farm women

THE Irish Farmers’ Association is to seek an early meeting with the new Social Protection Minister, Éamon O Cuív, in a bid to resolve a vexed pension issue for farm women.

Some 87 farm spouses were told by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that they qualified for the state contributory pension, and were put into payment. But they were later informed they did not qualify.

IFA president John Bryan, welcoming Mr O Cuív’s appointment, said he was looking forward to working with him to restore the pensions to the small group of elderly farm women affected.