Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
107. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that his Department has engaged with the ASTI in an effort to resolve the industrial action by the ASTI following the rejection by its members of the Haddington Road agreement. [42207/13]
View answerThe Government has made its position clear - given the overall context of the State's ongoing financial difficulties, there can be no re-negotiation of the Haddington Road Agreement. Teaching is a valued and important profession and I am glad that the Agreement has been accepted by three of the four trade unions representing teachers and lecturers in Ireland. I would again ask ASTI to examine the costs to their members of remaining outside the Agreement and to reflect further upon this matter, particularly given that the non-implementation of the Agreement will have the greatest impact on young, newly-qualified teachers.
