Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

487. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his position on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Lansdowne Road Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25999/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Department Circular 0045/2016 sets out the arrangements for the application of the Lansdowne Road Agreement in respect of post-primary teachers.

The Lansdowne Road Agreement as set out in Section 2 of the Circular applies to teachers employed in Education and Training Board schools and centres, apart from Designated Community Colleges. The LRA also applies to teachers in Designated Community Colleges who are TUI members, as such schools are dual-union schools with both TUI and ASTI representing teachers. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2013 and 2015 as set out in Section 3 of the Circular applies to all other teachers employed in Designated Community Colleges.

As is the norm with public service collective agreements, the Lansdowne Road Agreement was negotiated with trade unions which are recognised as representing staff in the public service (including teachers). It is normal industrial relations practice in the public service that the decision of the trade union recognised as holding representative rights for a particular grade or sector will determine the position for all relevant staff in that grade/sector, and to do otherwise may not be seen as appropriate in an industrial relations context. This context does not allow for acceptance or rejection of collective agreements by staff on an individual basis.

Accordingly, there is no proposal at this time to treat teachers separately based on the fact that they are not a member of a trade union.