The Minister will be aware that because of the implementation of equality legislation a wife is now no longer automatically regarded as a dependant of the husband. At that time a husband could never be regarded as a dependant of his wife but now the husband can be regarded as a dependant and can be means tested out of receiving any unemployment assistance. I have come across difficult cases where there is estrangement between husband and wife and where the husband is now totally dependent on the wife's income from her work. Does the Minister intend to deal with such cases in his review.

The Deputy will be aware that the implementation of the equal treatment measures caused a great deal of difficulty and it was because it caused hardship for certain people that alleviating measures were introduced for a period. Wives got an increased payment, as the Deputy will be aware. In the course of the preparation of any budget a Minister for Social Welfare must consider any hardship cases that have arisen. The most obvious ones are those who are on the alleviating payments and they will be a priority from my point of view in the coming year. The circumstances referred to by the Deputy, which are a direct result of equal treatment, can cause problems.