Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 7

Written Answers. - Examination Results.

Ivan Yates

Question:

101 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties certain third level students face in the threatened delay of receiving summer examination results due to an industrial dispute between the local Teachers Union of Ireland branch and certain colleges' management; the proposals, if any, he has to intervene in the dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14619/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I presume the Deputy is referring to disputes in Dublin Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology. The dispute in Dublin Institute of Technology has been settled following the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission.

The dispute arose in Carlow Institute of Technology in relation to a contract of a part-time member of the academic staff. This dispute lead to the imposition of an overtime ban by the Teachers Union of Ireland.

This action was suspended to allow further talks to take place between the Institute Management and the TUI. These discussions were chaired by an official from my Department who put forward proposals for consideration by both sides. The TUI are unhappy with some aspects of the proposals and have indicated to the Institute that they are to resume the overtime ban and have also decided to escalate industrial action by withholding examination results until 18 June, 1999. Further efforts by my Department to get agreement have been unsuccessful and I will now be urging both sides to use the services of the Labour Relations Commission to resolve the dispute.