The Taoiseach repeated that the Government is keeping the withdrawal of social welfare benefits from widows and widowers under review.
Mr Ahern said that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, had already met the Widows' Association and had been in contact with some of the other bodies involved.
"She has engaged in such contacts as part of her examination before bringing any proposal forward."
He added that the issue was under consideration "because of the general principle common to social welfare systems throughout the world that a person is only entitled to one income or maintenance payment at any time".
He was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, who said that Ernest Blythe "had taken a shilling off the old age pension and the repercussions lasted for 60 years in political terms against the Cumann na nGaedheal and Fine Gael parties." It was, he said, "a shameful act by the Government".
He added that the Tánaiste, at the PD "love-in" in Killarney, had spoken about social justice. The party had been part of the Government which made the decision in the first instance.
He said that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, in a written Dáil reply said the decision was made because of pressure on Government spending.
Meanwhile, he added, the Revenue Commissioners had indicated that the exchequer would take in at least €540 million, and probably much more, from offshore accounts.
"The Government, clearly, has no excuse for maintaining this cut. There is now €1.4 billion of a surplus in the social insurance fund. This is a contributory scheme to which widows pay."
Mr Ahern said that the Minister had introduced €530 million worth of additional increases, bringing her total budget to €11.26 billion.
He added that the figures for the first quarter were better than those on which the Minister had worked at that time.
"We should also take account, not that it is relevant only to this issue, of the 85 per cent increase in the last few years in widows' contributory pensions for those aged over 65 and the increase of 55 per cent for those under 66 years of age."
Mr Seán Ryan (Labour, Dublin North) remarked: "They are still expected to live on €140 a week." Mr Ahern said that the Budget had also provided an increase to €2,700 in the widowed-parent grant.
"There is no need for me to add to what has already been said by the Minister. She will meet with the groups involved and is keeping the implementation of these reforms under review. I am sure she will return to them."
