The dispute between the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and a member who is alleged to have disrupted meetings of the association's standing committee was temporarily resolved at the High Court yesterday.
Mr Justice McCracken was told the sides had agreed to adjourn to Thursday next an application by Mr Bernard Lynch, a member of the standing committee, to restrain the association excluding him from committee meetings.
His action was to have been heard yesterday because he wished to attend a meeting of the committee which takes place today. Following talks between the parties, a document was handed into court yesterday. Mr Paul Gardiner SC, for Mr Lynch, asked for an order which would record that Mr Lynch undertook to abide by the ruling of the committee's chairperson in all matters and not to disrupt the committee's meetings.
The order also records that the committee's chairperson agreed to afford Mr Lynch the same time as all members of the committee in accordance with standing orders. Mr Lynch agreed to keep all matters confidential.
Mr Gardiner told the court it was hoped further resolution would be reached.
Mr Justice McCracken said this was the type of dispute that ought to be resolved if at all possible.
Earlier this week, the court was told by Mr Roddy Horan, for the ASTI, that Mr Lynch had disrupted meetings of the committee and that until he apologised and agreed to conduct himself, he would not be allowed to participate in those meetings.