ASTI reverses decision, agrees to debate Dempsey

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has reversed last week’s decision not to allow Education Minister Noel Dempsey attend their annual convention.

The union’s 23-member standing committee has agreed to allow a debate between Mr Dempsey, ASTI president Pat Cahill and vice-president Susie Hall in Killarney next Tuesday.

The decision on a 10-6 vote came just five days after the same committee agreed unanimously not to accede to Mr Dempsey’s request to change the format of the ministerial session.