The next general secretary of the ASTI should possess good media skills, have experience of teaching at second level, and should come from a trade union background, a confidential survey of its membership has revealed.
He or she should also be a "respected figure", with negotiating and industrial relations skills. A meeting of an ASTI sub-committee to help select its next general secretary was told earlier this month that 103 replies had been received to a survey it had issued to branches and schools around the country.
Despite a vote at last week's ASTI annual convention in Killarney, in which delegates overwhelmingly supported a motion calling for consideration to be given to a national ballot of ASTI members to select the next general secretary, only a small number of respondents to the survey favoured such a move.
Some 11 per cent of respondents to the survey stated they would wish to see such an approach employed. If adopted, this would be similar to the approach taken by the INTO.
All of those in favour of a ballot are understood to have come from the same Dublin branch.
By comparison, some 78 per cent specified their preference for the employment of an external agency to recruit or short-list candidates. If implemented, this would take the responsibility for choosing the next general secretary out of the hands of the leadership of the ASTI, at least until the short-list was complete.
Interestingly, 87 per cent of those who responded said they favoured a fixed-term contract for the union's next general secretary. Previously, the general secretary has been offered a permanent contract. However, sources said the union has received legal advice that it is not allowed to offer a fixed-term contract without a very firm reason.
The members of the sub-committee include ASTI president, Mr Pat Cahill; president-elect, Ms Susie Hall; and leading members such as Mr P.J. Sheehy, Mr Seán Hurley and Ms Lily Cronin.
Mr John White, acting ASTI general secretary, is widely regarded as the front-runner for the post, although others, including Mr Cahill, have indicated they might be interested.