Responding to an Irish Farmers Journal article, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has emphasised that farmers have nothing to fear from new pension reforms and that farmers and other self-employed people will be carefully considered in whatever new pension calculation method is introduced from 2020.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has pointed out that the figures in the article were not based on any proposal before Government, nor any proposal which will be proposed to Government.

Refuted

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The Department absolutely refuted the figures within the article and pointed out that the Department held a public consultation to inform concerned parties about the reform process, where the Minister and senior officials made clear that the position of self-employed, who have paid class S since 1988, would be very carefully considered in the design of the final scheme.

The Irish Farmers Journal is happy to clarify this matter.