Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On several occasions I have commended the ICTU and the trade union movement in general for the mature manner in which they have responded to the fierce challenges that they have faced in recent years. I have said before that when we eventually get out of the hole we are in, it will be noted that the trade union movement played a serious, important and positive role in that regard. Everyone on both sides of the House accepts this point. The unions are balloting on the tough and difficult deal negotiated recently. In that context, I express my horror and dismay at the unprecedented intervention of the Catholic Primary School Management Association yesterday which communicated by letter with national school principals effectively, advising them to oppose the deal. This is placing the INTO in a difficult position. That union had the courage to stay in the talks and negotiate. It declared that the deal it had received was not the one it wanted. Is the Catholic Primary School Management Association suggesting national school teachers should now take further pay cuts and work even longer hours? This is an unprecedented intervention in the democratic process and should be condemned. I declare an interest. I am a former national INTO activist and had the honour to be nominated by the INTO to the Labour Panel to contest the Seanad elections on the last two occasions, but apart from this, this is unprecedented. I call on the Leader to join me in agreeing that the trade union movement has behaved responsibly and that we should ask people with no say or hand, act or part to play in the actual ballot process not to get involved. Certainly, the organisation mentioned has a valid interest in education, which I do not deny, as itt has done tremendous work, but it was not a party to the deal and, therefore, should keep out of it.