€644m pension plan needed

HAVING ground to a halt last year, the Farmers Early Retirement Scheme needs more adjustment if it is to play a significant role in Ireland.

Perhaps we should take a lesson from the Greeks, for whom the scheme has been most successful of the 10 member states who have used it.

It was popular with Greek farmers and uptake was high. What they seemed to do differently from other countries was to turn a blind eye to suspected widespread fraud - if you could describe as fraud farmers not complying with the requirement to cease farming.