ASTI conference begins today in Galway

The ASTI's annual conference begins today in Galway with the Labour Court proposal to end the long-running dispute over pay top of the agenda.

The union has not yet issued any recommendation on whether to accept the deal and a result from the ballot of the union's 17,000 members on the matter is not expected until early next month.

The three-day conference will also discuss whether this year's State exams should be targeted if the proposals are rejected, although General Secretary Charlie Lennon has said this is an unlikely scenario.

Education Minister Michael Woods is due to address the gathering later this evening.