asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider making available to widows of Old IRA soldiers the pensions which are made available to the men during their lifetime.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old IRA Widows.
19.
Provision of the nature requested by the Deputy is not contemplated.
It is now many years since those men fought for and won our freedom. Does the Minister not think that their widows should at least retain the pension rights of their husbands?
There is nobody in the House more sympathetic to the survivors of that period than I.
Would the Minister not agree that the extension of such pension rights to the widows of IRA soldiers would not cost anything extra?
It would cost something.
It would not because it would go to them after the husband's death.