Confusion surrounds Dempsey attendance at teachers’ meeting

THERE was uncertainty last night whether or not Education Minister Noel Dempsey will attend the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) annual congress in Galway next month.

The union issued a statement yesterday suggesting agreement had been reached that the minister would address delegates, but this was rejected by Mr Dempsey last night.

He told the 12,000-member union a week ago he would not attend because of its refusal to accommodate his request for an open forum on education during his attendance.