Union leader claims ESRI exclusion

A UNION leader has accused the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) of insulting teachers and non-university education sectors by seeking to exclude him from its council.

The ESRI annual general meeting reconvenes next Tuesday to consider Teachers Union of Ireland president Paddy Healy’s nomination to the council. After a strategic review earlier this year, the council was reduced from 30 members to twelve.

Mr Healy was proposed by two other teaching unions for election to the council at the AGM in September. After initially ruling that another member could not be added, the council sought legal advice and decided ESRI members could vote on the issue when the meeting continues next week.

Mr Healy, a physics lecturer and researcher at Dublin Institute of Technology said it was inappropriate that the council which included university professors, civil servants and a public relations company boss did not have a member with trade union experience or a non-university academic.

ESRI assistant director Gillian Davidson said it was acknowledged Mr Healy was entitled to seek election and members would be given the decision next week.