Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Minister to elaborate on the question posed by Deputy Thomas Byrne regarding the status of teachers who are not aligned to a union. This has been the subject of several parliamentary questions that I have put down. I have been in correspondence with the Secretary General on the matter in recent times. I am rather confused about this issue. Deputy Thomas Byrne posed a question as to whether there are situations involving teachers who have left the ASTI and who have been refused entry to the TUI. They are told in no uncertain terms that the other union will not take them and, vice versa, if a member leaves the TUI, there is a corresponding agreement between the two unions.

One of the teachers I have been posing questions about wanted to continue the job as year head. This went against the union directive, so he had to resign his union membership to take up the job of year head. Whether that was right or wrong – I think it was right, for what it matters - he chose to put the children's welfare and his job as a year head before his union membership. He has been blacklisted from the other union and cannot join it. As I understand it, the Department does not recognise him. He does not accrue the benefits under the Lansdowne Road agreement because he is not a member of a union. That is my understanding and his understanding, although I stand to be corrected on the matter. I am keen to know the Minister's thoughts on the matter. I think it is a bizarre situation to have teachers who, because they are not members of a union, are not enjoying the full benefits that accrue to others who are members. Effectively, that amounts to the Department insisting that a teacher must be a member of a union. Perhaps the Minister will outline his thoughts on the matter and on the question, as posed by Deputy Thomas Byrne.