asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to a statement made by the General Secretary of the INTO that Government influence on arbitration was too strong; and if he will consider making a statement in relation to this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Arbitration Scheme.
109.
This statement is in accord with an allegation previously made and to which the Chairman of the Arbitration Board replied in writing.Copy of the Chairman's letter which shows that there is no basis whatsoever for the allegation was sent to the President of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation on the 1st of this month with an intimation that he was free to publish the letter to his members.
110.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Education what steps he proposes to take to meet the demands of the INTO for just salaries for teachers, commensurate with the responsible and skilled tasks they have to perform, having regard to the dissatisfaction expressed by the teachers' profession with the arbitration award.
It is inherent in the Deputy's question that Schemes of Conciliation and Arbitration should be scrapped and that we should abandon an orderly approach to matters connected with the fixing of salaries of persons paid out of public funds. I do not intend to be a party to this. The same orderly and well defined procedure in relation to these matters is available to the Irish National Teachers' Organisation as is to all the other organisations and associations which represent the various groups of persons paid out of public funds. I have already informed the INTO that it is open to them to re-submit their claim either in the original or in an amended form to the Conciliation Council.