The Fine Gael/Labour government is being warned it faces a similar fate to the Fianna Fáil/Green coalition unless it U-turns on the issue of special needs assistants (SNAs).

A gaelscoil principal who was sacked last summer for saying that religion should be taught outside school hours has dropped his appeal against the dismissal.

The board of management at a Gael Scoil in Co Meath is defending its action over sacking their principal. The board denies that his dismissal is the result of a religious dispute.