asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the special circumstances involved, he will give sympathetic consideration to the payment of a gratuity to the widow of an Army officer (details supplied) who died recently.

As the deceased officer referred to in the Deputy's question was an officer of An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil and not a member of the Permanent Defence Force, the provisions in the Defence Forces pensions schemes relating to the payment of a gratuity to widows do not apply in his case.