Tánaiste to face TUI teachers at conference

The Minister for Education is expected to receive another frosty reception when she visits her second teacher conference in as many days.

Mary Coughlan is to address delegates at the Teachers Union of Ireland, who have already voted unanimously to reject the deal aimed at ending the public pay dispute.

The Minister was heckled at the INTO conference yesterday when she told teachers that the education sector would not be immune from further cuts.

TUI President Don Ryan said the Tánaiste would be left in no doubt about teachers' feelings towards Government policy.

"I will tell the Minister what the TUI wants in relation to education and…express the anger of my members in relation to how their pay and conditions and standard of living have been decimated by her Government, " he said.

Meanwhile, delegates at the ASTI conference will today debate an emergency motion on the pay-and-reform deal.