Vol. 349 No. 6
andMr. Tunney asked the Minister for Education whether she will now take the appropriate action to resolve the dispute in some third level Dublin institutions, particularly in the light of the disruption of studies and the holding of imminent examinations.
5.
asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the serious problems created for students in third level colleges in Dublin as a result of a strike of members of the TUI; if she intends to take any initiative in relation to the dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
6.
asked the Minister for Education if she will now intervene in the lecturers' strike in the College of Technology, Kevin Street, with a view to its immediate settlement.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 5 and 6 together.
The dispute in question between the Teachers' Union of Ireland and the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee arose in connection with the implementation of the terms of Agreed Report 5/82 of the Teachers' Conciliation Council. I am pleased to state that a formula for a resolution of the dispute emerged from discussions on 2 April 1984 and I am hopeful of a return to work by the teachers in the very near future.
Is the Minister aware that while there seems to be some light on the horizon as regards the settlement of this dispute, since February there has been a great reduction in the number of classes and students have been discommoded because of the disruption in their classes? Can the Minister assure me that, first, Ministerial directive 5/82 will be implemented in the fullest sense and will she ensure that that directive is implemented so that teachers concerned will get their due rights? Secondly, is the Minister aware that there is grave disquiet among teachers and students because of this mismanagement and misinterpretation of this directive?
The commonsense being shown by the parties to the dispute should be followed by everybody in this House for the sake of the students. I have been very aware of every facet of this dispute since it began, and my Department have been most active in taking a role in all the negotiations between the parties involved. Further than that I do not think it would be wise for me to comment or for the Deputy to press.
I intend to press and to use the House to do so. I have tried to do so by way of Private Notice Question and by requesting an Adjournment Debate to raise this matter. As I said, I am glad there is some light in sight but I regret the Minister has taken such a lax stand——
A question, please, Deputy.
Will these examinations take place at the already stated time, in spite of the fact that the students have missed so many lectures? Will the announcement about these examinations be made soon?
The Deputy will be aware that the managerial bodies in question are the vocational education committees. In the present circumstances where the parties have agreed to independent arbitration, I believe it would be most unwise to pursue this matter further.
Deputy Mac Giolla.
I want to ask a final supplementary.
I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
May I ask one final supplementary?
I will consider it.
I am sure the Minister is aware that a previous Minister for Education was responsible for and signed the agreement in question. I asked what initiatives the Minister has taken in this dispute to ensure that the agreement was adhered to and the dispute resolved. What monitoring has she done?
I can only repeat that my Department under my direction have been actively involved at every stage of this dispute and will continue to be very concerned with the outcome. I do not propose to say anything else.
I understand from trade union colleagues that the dispute was caused by a clear breach of the agreement. Would the Minister agree that this was the cause of this unnecessary dispute?
I can do no more than repeat that I do not consider it advisable from the point of view of the students of that college in particular to pursue this matter any further considering the point at which negotiations now rest.
In my view the Minister has kept a very low profile——
A question please, Deputy.
Does the Minister not realise that her responsibilities extend to seeing that a ministerial directive is carried out and that the students are not handicapped, as they have been? No amount of asking that this matter should not be raised will stop me from doing so.
