Retirement rules ‘should be relaxed’

Ireland: The rules relating to the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS) need to be relaxed further to allow participants to work on a voluntary basis on their home farm, the ICMSA suggested yesterday.

It welcomed Joe Walsh’s announcement last weekend of the easing of the restrictions on farm work under the scheme.

Rural Development Committee chairperson Tommy Cooke said it was an important step in the right direction that retired farmers would now be able to work as insured employees in farming related businesses such as farm relief or with farm contractors.