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

The full text of Dr. Travers's proposal document is available on my Department's website. Both sides were asked to confirm whether they accepted or rejected it as a basis for agreement. While the proposal put forward by Dr. Travers requires significant further compromise on my part, I have indicated to him that I am prepared to accept it as a basis for agreement. In doing so I acknowledged his considerable effort to achieve a fair and reasonable compromise since he was nominated for the role of independent chair by the two unions. Under the proposal, teachers are no longer asked to assess their own students for the purposes of State certification. This is a very significant measure in addressing a previous core union concern.

In not suspending their industrial action the unions have rejected the Travers proposal. I deeply regret this decision. The effect of their ongoing action is to seek to prevent teachers from participating in the continuing professional development available to give them the knowledge and support they need to do their jobs. I also regret that the unions have taken this decision without balloting their wider members on what is substantially a new proposal. No one group can be allowed to exercise a veto on educational reform. I intend to proceed with implementation of junior cycle reform based on the Travers proposal and will be working with wider education partners in so doing. I remain open to the unions revising their decision.

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