Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2016
45. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the current discussions between the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, ASTI, and the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, will result in pay equality in the education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35155/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the decision by ASTI last week to suspend its two industrial actions i.e. their one day strikes and their withdrawal from Supervision and Substitution duties. I also welcome the fact that a process has started under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) aimed at finding a resolution to this dispute.
Discussions are taking place under the auspices of the TCC, to which the Department, school management and teacher unions are all party. As the proceedings of the TCC are confidential, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment.
It would not be helpful for me to conduct negotiations over the airwaves or on the floor of the Dáil. Our focus remains on the talks, and therefore I am not going to say anything here that might impact on the conduct of those talks, other than to say I hope that the process will be successful in resolving all of the issues involved.
