59 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of task forces or special committees set up in her Department since 1997; the date they were established; the terms of reference of each; if they have reported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24482/01]

The following are the details of the task forces and special committees established. The National Minimum Wage Monitoring Committee was established in June 2000 and comprises representatives of ICTU, IBEC and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The remit of the committee is to monitor and assess the implementation of the national minimum wage legislation. A report, prepared by the committee for the Tánaiste, will be submitted shortly to the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business.

The National Framework Committee on Family Friendly Policies was established in July 2000 under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The committee is comprised of the social partners and a number of Departments and is chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The remit of the committee is to identify actions to be undertaken by the social partners at national level that support family friendly policies in the workplace. The committee prepared a progress report for the most recent PPF plenary meeting on 17 October and will produce a final report at the end of 2002.

The terms of reference of the Monitoring Group on the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996, were to appraise the effectiveness of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996; to monitor its enforcement; and advise on how it might be better implemented. The group was established in May 1997. The monitoring group reported to the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with special responsibility for Labour Affairs, Consumer Rights and International Trade, Deputy Tom Kitt, in May 1999.