Minister says university fees will not impact on low income families [Evening Herald]
- Published: 08 March 2009
Source: Evening Herald
The Education Minister has said it is important that any third level fees are 'family-proofed'.
Batt O'Keeffe said the report looking at the possible re-introduction of fees is at an advanced stage and will be brought before Cabinet in April.
Students unions are strongly opposed to the idea, and have held a number of high profile protests to highlight their anger at the proposals.
However, Minister O'Keeffe said any fees will be well thought through and will not include low income families.
Paperwork will see Cloyne bishop miss confirmations [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 07 March 2009
Source: Irish Examiner
THE embattled Bishop of Cloyne, John Magee, has admitted he will not be confirming primary school pupils this year.
In a letter to parish priests, Bishop Magee blamed the extensive amount of paperwork required by the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation into child protection practices in the diocese for his decision.
However, parents representatives said the bishop received at least five requests from parents associations not to confirm their children.
Writing to all parishes where confirmations are due to take place this year, the bishop said he had given assurances he would give every possible co-operation to the commission in carrying out its task when the Government asked the commission to carry out the investigation. It has since become clear to me that in order to focus on the volume of work pertaining to this investigation, regretfully it would not be possible for me to do this and administer the confirmations in the diocese this year. Accordingly, I have asked the vicars forane of each deanery to celebrate confirmation in the parishes of that deanery and granted them the necessary faculties, he wrote.
Bishop Magee was under huge pressure to resign earlier this year when it emerged that he had taken minimal action in relation to five credible child protection complaints and that any action taken by him was delayed.
The actions of the bishop and diocese put more children at risk of clerical sex abuse, a report by the Catholic Church's National Board for Safeguarding Children found.
Haughey says Govt will engage with teachers [Bray People]
- Published: 07 March 2009
Source: Bray People
Junior Education Minister Sean Haughey s expressing has expressed disappointment at strike threats by Ireland's three main teaching unions. The ASTI, TUI and INTO, which represent 60,000 teachers, have voted in favour of industrial action over the controversial pension levy being imposed on all public-sector workers.
They say the action will go ahead unless the Government re-engages with the trade union movement to devise a fair and equitable response to the economic crisis. Mr Haughey says the Government wants to work with teachers to resolve any difficulties and will engage with the unions to prevent strike action.
O'Keeffe says he hopes teachers will not strike [Bray People]
- Published: 07 March 2009
Source: Bray People
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe says he hopes "sense will prevail" and teachers will not engage in industrial action.
Mr O'Keeffe was responding to the news that Ireland's three main teaching unions have voted to take industrial action in protest at the Government's controversial pension levy.
The ASTI, the TUI and the INTO say the action will only be avoided if the Government re-engages with trade unions to devise a fair and equitable way to address the economic crisis.
Mr O'Keeffe has responded by saying that everybody has "to work together in the national interest".
Teachers vote for industrial action [Irish Times]
- Published: 07 March 2009
Source: Irish Times
Teachers have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over the Government's handling of the economic crisis.
The Irish National Teachers Organisation, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, and the Teachers Union of Ireland, which together represent more than 50,000 teachers, said their members have voted by a large majority for the action, which may include strikes.
The Irish Federation of University Teachers is expected to begin balloting its members on industrial action next week.
In a joint statement issued last night, the unions said the decision to vote for industrial action had been a difficult one for teachers, but it reflected the anger at the Government's "inequitable handling of the economic crisis".
The general secretaries of the three unions said the ballot results showed the frustration felt by teachers over education cutbacks and the introduction of a pension levy for public sector workers.
"Teachers and other workers expected to be treated in a fair and equitable manner and that the well-off in society would contribute their fair share," the union leaders said.
"Teachers want Government to re-enter discussions to address the economic crisis with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the basis that the burden must be shared by all sectors of society according to their means." The unions said industrial action would be co-ordinated in conjunction with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
