May 8th, 2015

The General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), Mike Jennings, has strongly criticised the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, TD, for refusing at short notice to attend and address the Annual Delegate Conference of IFUT in Dublin this Saturday, May 8th, 2015.

“It is astounding that the Minister was prepared to attend and address the conferences of other teachers’ unions in the middle of industrial action on reform of the Junior Cert, but has now declined to attend IFUT Conference.

“We understand that the Minister may have made her decision related to a mistaken belief that, due to proposed industrial action by researchers at Tyndall National Institute at UCC next week, there is a threat to the holding of student exams.

“IFUT and SIPTU, which also represents researchers in UCC, have both explicitly and publicly confirmed that that there will be no threat whatsoever to examinations.

“We have also confirmed this to UCC Students’ Union, who accepted and publicly acknowledged our position. In addition not one complaint or query from students has been received by IFUT or SIPTU regarding the exams issue.

“Given that IFUT has so very publicly confirmed its position regarding student examinations it is all the more perplexing and regrettable that the Minister is boycotting our Conference,” Mike Jennings said.

ENDS

For further information on this press release please contact:

John Gallagher, John Gallagher Consulting. Tel. 087.9369888 Mike Jennings, General Secretary, IFUT. Tel. 087.6776747.