Teachers’ groups broadly welcome FF and Labour education plans

“Fianna Fail has announced that it would like to increase the length of training time for both primary and secondary school teachers …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 17 February]

Programme 83, Education Spokespersons

“In this programme Barry spoke to education spokespersons from three of the main political parties: Fergus O’Dowd of Fine Gael, Paul Gogarty of the Green Party and Ruairí Quinn of the Labour Party. They were all attending the special delegate conference organised by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation. Spokespersons from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin were invited to be on the programme but to no avail.” (podcast)

[Inside Education on 103.2 Dublin City FM, 17 February]

Education debate

“The INTO has invited the various parties’ education spokespeople to a debate on 12th February in the Croke Park Convention Centre #ge11” (tweet)

[RTÉ Election, Twitter, 11 February]

QUBSU must lead the way in fighting cuts to education

“Dear Colleagues, I along with fellow members of the Northern Committee of the Irish National Teachers Organisation yesterday (Saturday 29th January) attended a demonstration organised by NISA against the removal of EMA and education cuts in general …” (more)

[Mary Cahillane, The Gown, 3 February]

Education is an issue worth fighting for

“The country finds itself in its present perilous and almost insolvent state due in no small part to the manner in which it was governed for too long, by a ruling elite and political class who were ill-equipped, ill-prepared and ill-educated for the task …” (more)

[Colin Quigley, Irish Examiner, 1 February]

Union bosses jet off as teachers face crucial vote

“The leaders of a teachers’ union have flown to a conference in Thailand as their members face a crucial re-ballot on the Croke Park deal …” (more)

[Anne-Marie, Independent, 19 January]

Education investment vital to recovery, say teaching unions

“Investment in education is critical to pulling Ireland out of recession, the presidents of the country’s four teaching unions warned today …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 5 October]

Teachers refuse to end industrial action

“The Government suffered a serious setback yesterday when the Teachers’ Union of Ireland refused to end its current limited industrial action …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 26 September]

Education spending levels criticised

“Teacher unions and opposition parties have today criticised the Government after a new OECD survey found that Ireland continues to rank close to bottom in terms of spending on education …” (more)

[Charlie Taylor, Irish Times, 7 September]

Teachers set to vote again on Croke Park deal

“Secondary school teachers are expected to have to vote again on the controversial Croke Park deal which they rejected first time around. Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), are expected to have to vote again on the deal, which would mean a renegotiation of their contracts and a requirement to work an extra hour per week …” (more)

[Martha Kearns, Sunday Business Post, 23 August]

Teacher unions open to reform talks

“… The executive of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) decided yesterday it would enter talks as long as what is to be discussed is clear beforehand and that anything negotiated would be subject to a ballot of members before it could be agreed …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 2 July]

Three out of Four Teacher Unions Vote no – Second and Third level Education Unions Stand Together

“IFUT votes 68% no — three of four teacher unions have now voted no — IFUT has today reiterated that it will not be bound by majority decision of Public Service unions …” (more)

[Paddy Healy’s Blog, 24 May]

Teachers’ unions divided on pay-and-reform deal

“Stark divisions have emerged between teaching unions over the public sector pay-and-reform deal with one narrowly voting in favour, and another voting against it …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 6 April]

INTO narrowly votes against rejecting pay deal

“At the INTO annual congress, a motion calling for the rejection of the public service pay deal has been defeated by a narrow margin. The emergency motion was rejected by a margin of just four votes – 308 to 304. The session was held in private …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 6 April]

Minister for Education heckled at INTO conference

“Minister for Education Mary Coughlan has been heckled during a speech at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation annual congress at Salthill Hotel in Galway. Around 100 delegates held up placards criticising Government spending cuts, while continuous booing and heckling punctuated the Minister’s speech …” (more)

[Inside Ireland, 6 April]

More adjustments needed, Coughlan tells teachers

“Tánaiste and new Education Minister Mary Coughlan has warned national school teachers that the sector will not be immune from further cuts. Mary Coughlan made the remark during her address at the Irish National Teachers Organisation conference in Galway this morning …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 6 April]

Coughlan addresses INTO

“… Ms Coughlan will this morning underline the Government’s readiness to face down any industrial action. However, The Irish Times understands she will also announce some easing of the moratorium on the filling of promotional posts in schools, when she addresses the Teachers Union of Ireland conference in Ennis, Co Clare, tomorrow …” (more)

[Sean Flynn, Irish Times, 6 April]

Pay deal to dominate agenda at teachers’ conferences

“National and secondary school teachers are gathering in Galway today for separate conferences set to be dominated by the issue of Budget pay cuts and the deal brokered between unions and Government …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 6 April]

Crucial education stance in balance as leaders differ

“The crucial views of teacher union members on the public service pay deal will emerge today after a week in which their leaders have voiced clear differences …” (more)

[Niall Murray and Stephen Rogers, Irish Examiner, 6 April]

Decision time at teachers’ conferences

“One issue will dominate the teachers’ conferences which start this week – the draft public service agreement. While pay was always going to be an issue at the annual Easter conferences, it had been hoped that the moratorium on the appointment of certain teaching posts and education cutbacks would take centre stage …” (more)

[Martha Kearns, Sunday Business Post, 4 April]