147 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the fact that early retirement scheme applicants cannot finalise and submit their applications due to the current restrictions on the sale and movement of livestock due to the foot and mouth situation, which necessitate them holding onto their remaining livestock; if any exceptions can be made for such applications, who, if the current restrictions were not in place, would have divested all their stock and proceeded to apply under the early retire ment scheme; and if he has any proposals to allow force majeure relief in such circumstances, particularly where all other conditions of the early retirement scheme have been complied with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8906/01]

My Department will look sympathetically at individual cases where the application for pension is otherwise in order and where, because of the applicant's age, the period of the pension would be reduced were the Department to insist that the sale of livestock be completed before approval of the application.