I would like to extend a sincere and warm welcome to our various guests, in particular the representatives of the construction and design teams of this €476,000 construction project. This new single storey building will incorporate office accommodation and a drill hall and will be used for the training of FCA personnel. It is a major improvement on the previous accommodation, which consisted of six prefabs and no drill hall. It is extremely important that the best of facilities are provided for all military personnel and this modern purpose-built structure is another very important development. This Government has shown its commitment in a very real way to improving accommodation and, since coming to Office, more than €200 million has been spent on modernising accommodation for the Defence Forces.

 It is worth noting that all the architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical design work for this project was executed 'in house' by the Director of Engineering, Col. Michael Cleary, and the engineering staff in the Southern Brigade. In particular I would like to complement Comdt. Gerry Doyle, Comdt. Larry Bracken and Comdt. Nick Bond on a job well done. I would also like to mention the important role of the main contractor, Dunnes Building Services from Portarlington. The Electrical Services were provided by Jer Ryan Electrical Ltd., from Clonmel and the Mechanical Services by William Black & Sons Ltd., from Cork. The standards of design and construction are most impressive.

 Over the past few years, apart from this new building, Tipperary has been associated with a number of Defence activities. Last year the Taoiseach was in Templemore to review the last Infantry Battalion bound for South Lebanon, when more than 500 soldiers were proudly lined up on the Main Street. Troops have also been reviewed in Clonmel and Roscrea prior to overseas service. The Defence Forces Training and Reserve Directorates will relocate from Dublin to Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, in the near future where work on the refurbishment of the North Block of the barracks is progressing well. In addition, the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence will relocate to Roscrea when accommodation is available towards the end of the year.

 Today's events are all about the FCA and the White Paper on Defence recognised that an important feature of the existing FCA organisation is its countrywide, geographical spread. This aspect will, as far as possible, be retained in the future as the Reserve is restructured and reorganised. The full organisational and establishment details of the new Reserve Force will be determined in the course of a detailed implementation process which will require about six years to bring to completion. In general terms, the blueprint for the new Reserve Defence Force will involve replacing An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil with an Army Reserve consisting of two elements. One element will provide personnel who will integrate with Permanent Defence Force units. Personnel who opt for a period of integrated service will be provided with enhanced military training. The larger element will provide the overall Army Reserve, organised into three Reserve Brigades.

 It is important that the many traditional strengths of the current Reserve system are preserved - not least the spirit of individual voluntary commitment, close social links with local communities and a good depth and scope as regards nationwide geographical spread.

 With the restructuring of the Reserve I am also determined that the equipment levels will continue to be enhanced. The aim, over time, is to achieve standardisation and inter-operability between the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force in respect of both dress and personal equipment issued to individuals. To this end I am delighted to launch the new DPM uniform for the FCA here in Templemore today. It represents a new concept in combat uniform, comprising a layered system of clothing, specially designed to be worn in extremes of climate. The DPM uniform was introduced in 2000 for the PDF and the colour mix was selected by Irish military personnel in order to afford the optimum camouflage for Defence Forces purposes. Feedback from the PDF on the performance of the uniform has been very positive. The issuing of the new uniform will have a positive effect on Reserve morale and self-image.

 Finally, I would like to thank the Directorate of Engineering and all others involved in the preparation and organisation of today's event. I am confident that this new building will be a tremendous asset to the Defence Forces for very many years into the future and I have great pleasure, therefore, in declaring the building officially open.

 Thank you.