Dempsey buries the hatchet with teachers union

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey has buried his differences with the Teachers Union of Ireland and will attend its annual congress.

However, it appears the minister will not be attending the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) convention in Killarney. The union's standing committee decided yesterday it will not facilitate Mr Dempsey's request to adopt a different format to the ministerial session.

Mr Dempsey rejected a TUI statement issued a week ago claiming agreement had been reached on his attendance. It is understood he was furious at the union's suggestion he had compromised on his original rejection of its invitation for him to address the conference in Galway.

But after talks earlier this week between the union and the Department of Education, a joint statement was issued last night.

In a change to the traditional format of the minister's appearance at these events, Mr Dempsey and TUI president Derek Dunne will debate a number of education topics in front of the 400-plus delegates the week after next.

"I am delighted we have succeeded in reaching a mutually agreed formula which will allow me to engage with delegates," said Mr Dempsey.

TUI general secretary Jim Dorney said the union looks forward to the minister's appearance and is happy the issue has finally been agreed.

The TUI and ASTI last month rejected Mr Dempsey's request that they should change the ministerial session of their conferences. The minister of the day and a union leader have traditionally delivered prepared speeches, but Mr Dempsey wanted delegates to hold discussions on the future of the education system during his attendance.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation has already agreed to hold a debate between the minister and union general secretary John Carr at its congress on April 13.