TUI: Minister must drop pre-conditions to Junior Cycle reform talks

The controversy over reform of the Junior Certificate is set to top the agenda at the Teachers Union of Ireland congress today.

The body says it is willing to return to the talks table, but it is calling on the Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan to drop any preconditions to the negotiations.

The dispute, which centres on pupils being assessed by their own teachers, has already resulted in two days of industrial action.

President of the TUI Gerry Quinn says there are a number of problems left to be resolved.

He said: "We've consistently said that we will talk, but the problem is when the minister calls for talks, it is with pre-conditions that are unacceptable to teachers.

"We are prepared to talk about the issues that run to the heart of the problem in order to resolve the problem.

"There is no point in leaving the problems in place. If the minister is prepared to allow her negotiators to address the whole suite of problems, then we are ready and able and willing to talk."