Unions can join fight to save economy, or kill it [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 November 2009
On November 24, the trade union movement will deliver its depressingly predictable response to economic crisis when its members try to shut down the country. Its objective is as simple as it is misplaced -- to stop the reforms and spending cuts that are essential if this country is to have any prospect of recovering from recession. If the unions succeed, we all fail.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Parents face chaos in schools closure [thepost.ie]
- Published: 15 November 2009
MORE than 65,000 teachers and lecturers will take to the picket line in 10 days’ time, leaving the parents of almost 800,000 school pupils needing to arrange childcare on November 24.
After the announcement that teachers would join the one-day public service strike, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe urged their unions to stay in talks with the Government.
Full Story: www.thepost.ie
O’Keeffe refuses to meet bishop over school row [Thepost.ie]
- Published: 15 November 2009
A row over the funding of Protestant schools by the state has escalated, with education minister Batt O’Keeffe refusing to meet the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork over the issue.
O’Keeffe told fellow TDs at a parliamentary party meeting that he was refusing a request from Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan to meet Bishop Paul Colton. Several sources told The Sunday Business Post that O’Keeffe had said: ‘‘I can tell you now I won’t be meeting the man.”
Full Story: www.thepost.ie
School removes cameras from toilets [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 November 2009
A school principal is removing security cameras from student toilets after a two-day protest by pupils and parents.
The closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed in the co-educational Scoil Mhuire Community School, Clane, Co Kildare, over the mid-term break.
The cameras were trained on common areas, rather than cubicles or urinals, but it provoked anger from students and parents, who claimed it was a breach of privacy.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Part-time teachers to get €45m in back pay, Fine Gael claims [IrishTimes]
- Published: 14 November 2009
PART-TIME TEACHERS will shortly receive €45 million in back pay because of “incompetence” by the Minister for Education and his department, Fine Gael claimed yesterday.
Brian Hayes, party spokesman on education, said the taxpayer was facing this bill as a result of the unwillingness of the Minister to address the issue.
But the department said it has no record of indicating that the bill would be €45 million. It said the actual bill will be closer to €10 million.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
