Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is regrettable that I must proceed without the full agreement of the teaching unions but they are not the only partners in education. The other partners want us to proceed with these reforms. Some of those engaged with the media yesterday.

Dr. Travers stated that he intended his proposals to be the basis for agreement, not further negotiation. It is the teaching unions that have questions to answer in terms of the reforms, the importance of other partners in education and concern for students. Although I regret it, I must move forward. My Department has met the other education partners and I intend to invite partners to a seminar on 26 March to outline our proposals on moving forward. My door remains open if the teaching unions want to re-engage on the basis of the Travers proposals, which is what the process was about.

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