I am pleased to officiate at the opening of Bull Cara's superb new Training Centre. It is of strategic importance that Ireland, as a centre for excellence, within the I.T. market, should have state of the art training facilities and standards.

In recent years, Ireland's Information Technology Sector has had massive demands for high-level skill requirements. This arises because of the continuing emphasis placed by the Government, on developing the information technology/software sectors as "sunrise" industries.

The Government has responded to this in a number of ways. In 1997, the Government established the Business, Education and Training Partnership to develop national strategies to tackle the issue of skills needs amongst others. The Expert Group presented its first report, which dealt with the skills needs of both the software and electronics sectors, to both the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science in June last.

FÁS is responding to the skill needs identified by the Expert Group by providing extra training places for the electronics and software sectors. FÁS spending in this area was increased by £1.7m in l998 on foot of the Expert Group Report. An additional £3.2 m. has been allocated to FÁS in l999 to train 730 extra people for the electronics and software sectors.

Another significant initiative was adopted to meet the short, medium and long term needs of technology and high-growth oriented firms. This was the £280m Education, Technology and Investment Fund which was launched by us in November l997 and is administered by the Department of Education and Science. The Fund is intended to help develop technology at all levels from Primary Schools through to advanced technological research.

FÁS operate a Traineeship programme in co-operation with employers which provides a means of both addressing their skills needs and the training and qualification needs of new labour market entrants. This programme has expanded significantly and in l998, 1,270 people completed Traineeships, of whom 1,016 were placed in employment. The programme is finely attuned to the needs of the labour market with employers involved in curriculum development, determination of standards and the provision of Traineeship places.

We are all aware that the days of one job for life are, to a large extent, gone. People are changing jobs more often. It is essential therefore that a culture of lifelong learning is created and nurtured, to help us cope with the changes taking place in the workplace and in work patterns. The link between "Employability" and "Lifelong Learning" is highlighted strongly in EU Employment Guidelines. The Leonardo EU Vocational Training Programme also places a heavy emphasis on the concept of lifelong training.

In the face of increased global competition, companies now require a workforce which is flexible and adaptable. To remain competitive, a company must be able to adjust to the needs of its customers and to the demands of the market-place. More and more, it is the workforce, their skills, competencies and ability to adapt and change, that will create Sustainable Competitive Advantage.

The days when any firm could consider training as an optional extra are gone. We are now on the threshold of Economic and Monetary Union which is the ultimate expression of the Single European Market. Everywhere, borders are falling and competition is increasing. In business there is a simple maxim - if you're not going forwards then you are going backwards - and this becomes more and more significant in the context of EMU and globalisation. Training and upgrading of skills is one of the essential ways to go forwards; or at least to avoid going backwards.

Enterprises are not abstract creations. They are living things and people are their lifeblood. Enterprises grow and develop through the efforts, dedication and innovation of their staff at all levels. It is quite clear that firms which are proactive and committed in their human resource development gain a competitive edge. They have the wherewithal to deliver higher standards of customer service, higher productivity and higher quality. In short, they are better to do business with and provide a better, more stimulating, environment for their employees.

While employers have an important role to play in the area of lifelong learning, it is up to each individual to take responsibility for their own upskilling and our Department supports individuals in this effort. As a tangible expression of this support and in order to provide a financial incentive for such upskilling, our Department in 1997, introduced a Training Tax Break Scheme, which provides for tax relief in relation to the cost of participation on approved courses in Information Technology and foreign languages. The scheme is administered by FAS.

The Private Sector has a significant role to play in the provision of training. Centres, which are "state of the art" enable people to enhance their existing skills and to gain in-depth knowledge of new technologies.

I cannot let the occasion pass without congratulating Bull CARA for the excellent job which they have done, in renovating this fine old Georgian Building, it shows that the new need not drive out the old, as both can be compatible.

In conclusion let me again congratulate Bull CARA on this ultra modern training centre and wish them every success in its future operation.