Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is the section which is causing most disturbance among teachers because it will freeze increments and also be discriminatory against certain teachers. It will affect the pensions of some who are already at a disadvantage and thus affect the future of the profession. It is being seen as an assault on unions, normal industrial relations and the principles of trade unionism. It undermines the duty of a union to protect the interests of its members. It is very severe.

I have seen figures for the potential loss. The cumulative effect is actually staggering from the point of view of repudiation. People will not recover what they have lost.

The section is creating tensions between those unions which accepted the agreements and those which repudiated them, between those employed prior to and after 2011. We all know the value of education and about the importance of the curriculum and methodologies used, but as a former teacher I know that the teacher-pupil relationship is absolutely crucial. It depends on the quality of the teacher and the teaching, which is of the utmost importance. We have to ensure young people entering the teaching profession can maintain that quality. Entering on an unequal footing is not helping.

During the years we have seen - I saw it in my time a good while ago - graduates with the same degrees - a BA, a B.Com and Bachelor of Science - enter private industry and make much more money. This adds to the inequality. It began with the budget decisions and is made worse by what is in contained in section 21. Teachers should not have to endure that inequality within the profession and are finding it intolerable. It will not encourage anyone to enter the profession. I understand the TUI membership is particularly affected because 35% of its members are new entrants. It is hoping that number will increase, provided people enter the profession.

Surveys show that there is a shortage of teachers, although the Minister might say otherwise. Across the board there are difficulties in recruiting and finding substitutes to provide cover because private industry is making it much more attractive for those who would have entered teaching, while others are leaving to enter private industry. There has also been a drop in the numbers applying to undertake the Master of Education degree. This situation cannot be allowed to fester for three years. Will the Minister, therefore, acknowledge that there is a problem? Will he re-engage with the unions in question? I understand the three-year freeze was never mentioned in the talks. Therefore, it is undermining the agreements. The unions only became aware of this provision when the legislation was produced.

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