The National Alcohol Strategy Task Force, announced yesterday by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, is the latest in a series of more than 50 official task forces which have either been formed or have reported since the Fianna Fβil-Progressive Democrat coalition came to power in June 1997.
December 1997: A jobs task force is established following the merger of Waterford Foods and Avonmore which resulted in the loss of 151 jobs.
1997: A task force on the dumping of radioactive material into the Irish Sea is established by Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.
1998: A total of 14 local drugs task forces are established around the State.
October 1998: LUAS task Force established to oversee delivery of the light rail system for Dublin.
1998: Report of task force on suicide published.
1998 Report of the task force on seafarer training and employment brought to Cabinet.
1998: Task force on rail safety established.
November 1998: Task force on future of the beef industry established
1998: Report of the task force on the Eastern Regional Health Authority
December 1998: Establishment of Donegal initiative task force, following the closure of clothing manufacturer Fruit Of The Loom with the loss of over 1,000 jobs to the locality. March 1999: Jobs task force established for Portarlington following closure of Avon Arlington Ltd and loss of 400 jobs. This was the 12th such task force since 1996.
May 1999: Financial action task force report welcomed by Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
July 1999: Establishment of task force on bullying in the workplace.
July 1999: Proposals put forward by task force for local development.
August 1999: Task force established to examine possible regulation of jet-skis, speedboats and other fast water-craft.
October 1999: Establishment of task force on employment in the fishing industry.
1999: Establishment of task force on joyriding in Coolock, Dublin.
2000: Railways task force established following publication of report on rail safety by British consultants
July 2000: Report from task force on agricultural education and training.
August 2000: Establishment of task force on education for autistic children.
The task force is described as an "urgent response" to the needs of autistic children
September 2000: Establishment of jobs task force in Macroom, Co Cork following closure of General Semiconductors, with 700 job losses.
October 2000: Establishment of task force on dyslexia.
2000: Task force established on the road haulage industry.
November 2000: Offaly County Council issues report from task force on revival of the county.
February 2001: Establishment of Waterford task force, to deliver jobs to the city and to the South east region.
February 2001: Task force on immigration and work permits' report is published.
March 2001: Task Force established to examine ways of diverting freight traffic from Dublin city centre.
March 2001: Establishment of task force to examine social welfare payments in Co Louth during foot-and-mouth crisis.
March 2001: Establishment of task force on development of port estates in commercial harbours.
April 2001: Establishment of task force to monitor foot-and-mouth crisis.
July 2001: Eleven new local Drugs Task Forces established.