Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will be attending the teachers' conferences in 2004. [9809/04]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reasons behind his refusal to engage in debate with the teacher unions at their annual conferences regarding the future of education in a format chosen by the unions. [9761/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 144 together.

I welcome this opportunity to set the record straight on the question of my attendance at the forthcoming teacher union conferences. The teacher unions are important bodies in Irish education and it is highly desirable that they should have a significant role in the debate on the major issues facing our education system. It is equally desirable that there be clear and transparent communication between the Minister of the day and the unions.

In my view the traditional format of the Minister's attendance at teacher conferences does not lend itself to either dialogue or communication. Frankly, it is more about heat than light and a changed format is long overdue.

I wrote to the three teacher unions in February outlining my views and suggesting a revised format. Both TUI and ASTI indicated that they were not disposed to a change of format. INTO was constructive in its response and, following discussions with my officials, revisions to the traditional format were agreed with that union. Subsequently my officials met with representatives of TUI and ASTI. As of now there is no agreement in place with these unions, which would enable me to attend their conferences.