The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, said he would consider any individual case requiring "greater compassion" when dealing with the cases of the widows of Irish soldiers killed in the Congo in the 1960s.
However, he said he would not reopen the terms of the existing compensation scheme, given that it was quite generous.
Mr Smith, replying to the Labour defence spokesman, Mr Joe Sherlock, said Irish people were immensely proud of the role played by the soldiers who went to the Congo and participated in subsequent missions.
"Eleven of the soldiers who were killed in the Congo were married. Four of their widows have died and three have remarried. The current value of the lump sum given to the widows at that time is €77,000. The lump sum that is payable in similar circumstances at present is €81,000."
Mr Sherlock had asked the Minister if he was aware of a newspaper report which suggested that a woman and her child were left destitute when the woman's husband was killed in the Congo. "Does he think it is appropriate that a more reasonable amount of money should be provided?"
Mr Smith said an Army Pensions Act was enacted in 1960 to provide, among other things, enhanced pension benefits for the dependants of military personnel who died in the course of UN service abroad.
Furthermore, the Government of the day authorised the introduction of a new scheme of extra-statutory lump-sum payments for such dependants. Pensions had been increased over the years in accordance with the standard method. The pension had been specially enhanced in 1975.
