Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A key part of the reason we are in the position in which we find ourselves is the approach the Government has taken. The Government has taken a bullish approach from the outset and drove on regardless of making sure it was done in partnership with those who would implement it. This is why teachers, unfortunately, still do not have faith in what, as the Minister has pointed out, their union leadership negotiated with the Minister. They have lost faith with the Minister, certainly with the former Minister, Deputy Quinn, long before that and in particular, with the Government's commitment and approach to delivering reform overall. I note the Minister's leadership in this regard has not changed. She is still firing on regardless but I implore her to take a conciliatory approach in engaging at all times, to unwind what are the remaining issues, to try in particular to deal with how a major part of the remaining issue is a lack of confidence in the Government and to try to ensure a position is reached in which reform can proceed in a way in which everyone is on board with delivering it.

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