asked the Minister for Defence whether there are any prospects of the present free travel arrangements for wives of old IRA men being extended in the near future so that they may travel free of charge unaccompanied by their husbands.

As I have explained on previous occasions, the free travel scheme administered by my Department for veterans of the War of Independence and their spouses has, from the outset, followed the conditions of that administered by the Department of Social Welfare for old age pensioners and their spouses. I am not, therefore, in a position to promise that there will be any changes affecting my Department's scheme alone.

May I ask the Minister if any consideration has been given to granting free travel concessions to the widows of IRA veterans, most of whom are in a much worse financial position than the wives of surviving members?

The question relates to wives.

With respect, surely they are still wives.

I think I dealt with this aspect of the matter in my reply to the debate last week.