Heckles for minister during speech

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn was heckled and repeatedly shouted at during his speech to the Association of Secondary School Teachers conference in Cork.

About 12 teachers walked out holding red cards in protest at his speech.

While he received applause when he praised teachers for “the manner in which you have responded positively to our literacy and numeracy campaign and to our reforms”, he encountered moans, groans, and angry rebuttals when he explained why the country could not avoid cuts to the education budget.