Cold and rain fails to dampen anger of 12,000 protesters

THE cold and rain failed to deter about 12,000 people from voicing their anger over education cutbacks outside Leinster House last night.

The suggestion by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe that teacher unions were just looking after their own interests was strongly rejected by speakers representing parents and school managers.

Jim Moore, president of the National Parents’ Council-Post Primary, said he wanted the minister to know that parents would not stand by and allow their children suffer under the proposed budget cuts.