68 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the nominating bodies to each board under the aegis of his Department; the number of seats to which each of these bodies nominate; and the guidelines or instructions given to nominating bodies to assist in achieving gender balance in line with Government policy. [6978/97]

The Employment Equality Act, 1977, does not prescribe which organisations should have right of nomination. Traditionally, nominations have been requested from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and the National Women's Council of Ireland. The question of nominating members to the board of the Employment Equality Agency has not arisen during the lifetime of this Government.

The Employment Equality Act, 1977, provides that the board of the Employment Equality Agency shall consist of a chairman and ten ordianry members. Of the ordinary members, two are to represent workers' interests, two are to represent employers' interests, three are to be representative of women's organisations, with the remaining three nominated by the Minister.

The Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, which came into force on 11 October 1996, does not require of the Minister for Equality and Law Reform that she or he would seek nominations to the Legal Aid Board from any organisation or body. When a new board is being appointed, however, the Minister may consult with bodies such as the Bar Council, the Incorporated Law Society, the Departments of Finance and Social Welfare, and officials from my own Department and from the trade unions representing the staff of the board.

The Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, provides that of the 13 members of the board, two shall be barristers, two shall be solicitors and two shall be members of the staff of the board. The Act also provides that not less than five shall be men and not less than five shall be women.

69 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the mechanisms used by his Department to ensure that policies, programmes and decisions are proofed to assess their impact on women; the training available to those officials responsible for gender proofing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7010/97]

One of the main functions of my Department is to progress equality legislation and equality of opportunity among the sexes in employment and elsewhere. While the legislation applies equally to men and women the provisions therein are of particular benefit to women. Accordingly, the gender proofing of such activities forms an integral part of the work of my Department. Policy proposals submitted to my Department from other Government Departments and those for submission to Government are also examined in my Department in the context of gender proofing.

Officials of my Department have developed expertise in the area of gender proofing primarily through attendance at specialist conferences, seminars and other functions which focus on equality issues, and through the on-the-job experience of dealing with equality issues on a day-to-day basis. This expertise is further reinforced by access to reports and other documents outlining practices of equality proofing and mainstreaming in other areas.

70 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the initiatives, if any, taken by his Department in 1995 and 1996 which were targeted at women; the budget allocated to each initiative; the actual amount spent on each; the budget for his Department in each of the years 1995 and 1996; and the amount of that budget exclusive of direct staffing and overhead costs. [7026/97]

Because equality issues impact throughout my Department generally, I propose to approach the reply by identifying initiatives, policies and legislation within the various sections of my Department which are of particular interest to women.

In 1995 a sum of £100,000 was allocated for the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. A sum of £87,000 was expended on the preparation for, and attendance at, the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. In 1996 a further £20,000 was allocated of which £10,000 was expended.

A number of women's organisations received allocations from this subhead to attend the conference and there were a number of regional and one national seminar organised by the National Women's Council of Ireland to which women's interest groups were invited, which were funded by my Department.

My Department grant-aids the National Women's Council of Ireland. In 1995 the budget allocation amounted to £200,000 of which the council received £147,895 which included a payment of £7,895 for an information project on divorce. In 1996 the council was allocated and received £170,000.