Another area in which I am anxious to see more progress being made is the removal of the perception of a “glass ceiling” to promotion in the army. Every recruit joining the defence forces should have a reasonable expectation of being promoted to senior officer level by virtue of their ability and character.

I am pleased to report that significant progress is being made here too. The cadetship competition has been revised to increase the maximum entry age to 28 and to award bonus marks to candidates with previous experience in the PDF or RDF. The results for the 2005 competition were encouraging with 14% of PDF and 8% of RDF applicants being successful in obtaining cadetships as against 4% of candidates without any military experience.

A Commissioning From the Ranks competition will take place later this year - the first in almost five years. This will give existing non-commissioned officers an opportunity to compete for promotion to the commissioned ranks. The outcome of this competition will inform my approach to this important issue into the future.

These welcome developments are tangible proof that our Defence Forces are continuing to modernise

These newly commissioned officers take up duty at a time of exciting change for the Defence Forces. We are now more than half way through the implementation of the White Paper on Defence. This is transforming the capacity of the Defence Forces to meet the challenges of the modern era at home and abroad. The continuing programs of investment in new equipment and infrastructure have had a positive impact on all areas of the Defence Forces.

Since my appointment as Minister for Defence I have visited our peacekeeping troops in Liberia, Kosovo and Bosnia. It was a matter of great satisfaction for me to see for myself how professionally they are performing their tasks. We are now in a position to send our personnel overseas as well, if not better equipped, than any of their peers. The ongoing modernisation programme has made this possible and our Defence Forces deserve no less.

As well as the investment programme, I am determined to implement the organisational changes as set out in the White Paper and reiterated in the Programme for Government. Working in tandem with the military authorities, commitments, including a new Army organisation, an Integrated Personnel Management System and the Implementation Plan for the Reserve must be fulfilled. Significant progress is being made across all these fronts and I am determined that we deliver on this in the shortest possible time.

Today is a celebration of real achievement and marks the passing of a great milestone in the lives of these new officers. The dedication and commitment of those who have moulded these young men and women into officers over the last 21 months must be acknowledged and I would like in this regard, to thank the Commandant of the Military College, Lt Col Colm Campbell, the Class Officer Captain Larry Heffernan, Company Sergeant Eddie Whitford and all of the personnel of the Cadet School, for their fine work.

Finally I would like to compliment everyone involved here today in the arrangements for this impressive ceremony, with particular thanks to the Band of the Western Brigade under the baton of Captain Declan Whitston.

Thank you very much.