A chara, - When Dr Woods, Minister for Education and Science, met the officer board of the Teachers' Union of Ireland on Wednesday, January 10th, he indicated, in response to our demand, that money unjustly deducted from our ASTI colleagues in respect of work-to-rule days could be repaid without preconditions.
In particular, he agreed that the deletion of section (d) of Mr Pomphrett's letter - which absurdly suggests that, even if repaid, the money might at some later stage be deducted once more - would do no injury to the Government's position. This section, as you know gave grave offence to our ASTI colleagues and, indeed, to all teachers. Its inclusion as a condition was instrumental in collapsing the talks process which had begun.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, writing your edition of January 16th, also indicates that "payment for the days in question is on offer to the teachers" and "will be refunded without prejudice to the position of either side". In the context of Mr Pomphrett's letter, the Taoiseach here restates the terms of section (c) but is silent on the offending conditionality of section (d). Clarification is required.
We take it that Dr Woods spoke to us in good faith. It is with alarm and astonishment, therefore, that we learn that certain of his Cabinet colleagues oppose repayment of the deductions without the application of insulting conditions. That Government ministers would seek to prolong the current impasse is scarcely comprehensible, given the general desire to restore normal educational service and to have the State examinations proceed. It would be perverse in the extreme of any Government to abuse public trust in this manner.
It is rumoured that among those most opposed to reason is the Minister for Finance, but he cannot be alone in his stance. We now call upon Mr McCreevy and other ministers who, it is said, oppose repayment of the money either to explain why they are obstructing the path to settlement or, infinitely preferably, to do what is decent and right by authorising immediate repayment and allowing talks to re-open. We would ask the Taoiseach and Dr Woods to support this call for responsible and humane political leadership. - Yours, etc.,
John MacGabhann, President, Teachers' Union of Ireland, Orwell Road, Dublin 6.