Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We discussed some of this issue on the previous question. The fact remains that, even with the agreement of the INTO and TUI, significant pay inequality and discrimination against new entrants persist. This is why the strike is going ahead regardless of whether the Minister likes it, that is, unless there is a resolution and the Government concedes on the key issue of pay equality.

Will the Minister comment on the ads reported in today's newspapers that offer parents and members of the public the opportunity on a paid basis to supervise in schools where strike action is due to take place? I referenced strike breaking earlier and, to me, this is nothing if not strike breaking. Has the Minister approved the projected expenditure by the Department of Education and Skills that may arise from funding this strike breaking? Does he believe that this is a good approach to take to the dialogue with the ASTI or in terms of setting parents against their children's teachers or parents teaching their children that they should break strikes? It is not.

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