24/09/2013

Noonan Says Haddington Road 'Can Not Be Changed'

There is no room for renegotiation on the Haddington Road agreement, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has said.

According to the RTÉ, Minister Noonan made his comments as he made his way to attend a meeting over the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) decision to reject the proposed agreement.

In protest at cuts to pay and conditions, the ASTI announced on Monday that it would pull out of all meetings that take place outside school hours alongside their withdrawal from in-service teaching for the Junior Cert.

Refusing to hold meetings outside working hours will mean all school planning meetings, staff and parent-teacher meetings will have to take place during school hours.

Mr Noonan also offered support to Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin and Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, saying that negotiations had been handled "very effectively", and that the pair were now discussing the matter, but he added that the agreement could not now be changed.

(MH/JP)

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