60 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Government's requirement that 40 per cent of Government appointees be women was not applied to membership of the monitoring committees of EU Structural Funds. [13087/96]

Monitoring committees of EU Structural Funds draw their membership from post-holders involved in the implementation-monitoring of Structural Fund activities and appointees by outside bodies e.g. the European Commission, Social Partners. Committees which require such membership are exempt from the 40 per cent gender balance requirement.

61 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance the way in which Structural Funds have been refoccussed as a result of the introduction of the Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation following the circular from his Department of 1 August 1995. [13089/96]

The refocussing of the Operational Programmes and Community Initiatives to support the operational programme under the EU initiative for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties is still being examined by the monitoring committees for the various programmes and initiatives.