asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the serious effects which the present vocational teachers' strike is having upon pupils due to sit for examinations in June, he will state if there have been any developments in regard to settling the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Vocational Teachers' Strike.
117.
The background to this strike was set forth in my reply of the 5th February. As I explained in that reply, a joint scheme of conciliation and arbitration is available for signature by all three groups of teachers. It is designed to cater for every group and to provide proper machinery for dealing with the various problems connected with teachers' emoluments. The scheme has already been signed by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation. The minor amendments to the scheme sought by the Vocational Teachers' Association as a condition for signing it have been catered for and they have now indicated that they are prepared to sign the scheme. I have appealed once again to the Association of Secondary Teachers to enter the scheme which will provide the only rational machinery for dealing with all the problems involved.
While being sympathetic to the Minister's approach to the problem, would the Minister not agree that, in view of the resistance of the secondary teachers to being involved in the common scheme before the existing dispute is settled, because they feel there may be disadvantages accruing to them, what is now required is the appointment of some kind of mediator to bring the three groups together so that they will agree to joining in the common scheme——
This is going beyond the scope of the question. The question asked the Minister to state if there have been any developments because of the serious effects the strike is having upon pupils due to sit for examinations in June.
The position is that there has been a very proper attempt by the Minister to bring the three sides together within this conciliation and arbitration scheme. I gather there is some resistance to that on the part of the secondary teachers and I am asking the Minister now if he would appoint a mediator to bring the three sections together. The Minister says he can only do that if they come into the scheme whereas what is needed is to appoint a mediator initially to get them all into the scheme.
I have already explained my reasons for not agreeing to a mediator. I could not accept mediation except there was involvement in the scheme. What we really need is to get the teachers together in a situation in which we can ultimately come to a solution. As I said in my reply, I am appealing to the secondary teachers to come into the scheme. I have gone a very considerable way in making amendments to the scheme.
I wholeheartedly agree that the aim is to get them into the scheme, but if one is faced with a dispute about getting them into the scheme, then to say that one will have a mediator after they come into the scheme is surely putting the cart before the horse. The problem is to get them into the scheme. The impasse has existed for some months now and is the Minister's attitude not conducive to a prolongation of the dispute?
I have been involved in this matter for some months and I have considered very carefully every possible aspect. I have endeavoured, in so far as I could, to try to make available the type of machinery through which, I believe, we will get results and to avoid simply appointing people to an exercise which, in the ultimate, would mean running away from the problem. I have gone a considerable distance in the matter and I would appeal again to the secondary teachers to take part in the scheme.