A brief look at the conferences of the State's three main teacher unions.

INTO

Venue: Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal. All this week.

Members: 24,000 in the Republic.

Delegates: 800

Hold the front page? Hardly. The INTO backed benchmarking and the national pay deal. Members are grateful that they have not imploded like the ASTI. Not in rebellious mood, but teacher workload could be an issue.

Craic factor: High. INTO delegates lead a double life. By day they earnestly discuss an extraordinary range of education issues, but once the conference adjourns, the fun begins. Not unusual to see delegates discussing geo-political matters at 6 a.m. in hotel foyer. A lively bunch. If you have a guitar, bring it along.

Any bitter internal divisions? Little sign of hostilities. INTO members like to keep their arguments behind closed doors. Total loyalty to the union is a badge of honour.

How is the general secretary doing? INTO gen sec John Carr (left) has had to step into the giant shoes of former boss Joe O'Toole. Carr has been less colourful than O'Toole (aren't we all?) but his record is very good. Set the agenda brilliantly on rotting primary schools and is very good on issues like educational disadvantage. Helped by outstanding press officer Peter Mullen.

ASTI

Venue: Southcourt Hotel, Limerick. Until Friday.

Members: 17,000

Delegates: 450

Hold the front page? Two years ago, when the union was closing schools, some two dozen hacks covered the conference. This year, there is only a handful. That tells its own story. The ASTI dispute is now over. Some motions from hard-line sections are designed to upset the leadership , but there is a sense that all this stuff is a bit passé. Watch out for how motions calling for a return to ICTU and greater co-operation with other teaching unions fare.

Craic factor: Low. Given the civil war in the union between moderates and hard-liners, a flak jacket is de rigueur for reporters. Lots of backstairs plotting and whispering in the corners. But, with peace breaking out all over, the atmosphere could be more cordial this year.

Internal divisions? Of course. The ASTI is still a family at war. Bitter divisions between treasurer Patricia Wroe and some of the leadership over her review of the union accounts. Huge chasm between Charlie Lennon and the hard-liners.

How is the general secretary doing? Charlie Lennon has survived perhaps the worst three years of his professional life. He must feel vindicated by the strong support of members for benchmarking and supervision. There is loose talk that he might want to leave the union. Much admired in the trade union movement.

TUI

Venue: West County Hotel, Ennis. Until Friday.

Members: 12,000

Delegates: 500

Hold the front page? Unlikely. For some reason, the TUI continues to punch below its weight in media terms. Given its involvement with the vocational sector it should be very strong on issues like disadvantage but rarely draws the headlines. Its former president, now research officer, John McGabhainn, is a brilliant contributor to the education debate and is always worth hearing.

Craic factor? Very high. Famously called "USI for grown ups". TUI members don't take themselves too seriously. Very welcoming towards visiting delegates and reporters.

Internal divisions? The leadership seems to be always locked in a kind of civil war. But, unlike the ASTI, it never seems to get personal.

President Derek Dunne launched a scathing attack on vice-president Paddy Healy for his total opposition to the benchmarking deal. Said he was fed up of Healy and pointed to the mess in the ASTI.

How is the general secretary doing? Jim Dorney is perhaps the most astute leader in education circles. Happy to leave the radicals in the TUI to let off steam, but trims their sails when they get over-excited. Will be pleased that members backed benchmarking and supervision with huge majorities. Will be like a cat who got the cream this week.