The Taoiseach's robust defence of the Government's stance in the teachers' dispute yesterday, was impressive. Most fair-minded people reading or listening to his words will agree with his conclusions. The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) has been unreasonable in its demands. It has not shown a modicum of flexibility in this dispute and summarily dismissed a comprehensive Labour Court recommendation which adjudicated on its case.
Until now, there have been few signs that the union is ready to retreat from the destructive path on which it has embarked. And, yesterday, the representatives of 17,000 secondary teachers found themselves defending the indefensible. The ASTI has refused to help special needs students make arrangements with the Department of Education for this year's exams and continues to turn its fire on Leaving Certificate students in the weeks before the most stressful exams of their lives.
The ASTI actions have unleashed a wave of student power and this is no bad thing. These are the people who are hurting most. For years, they have been left without a say in Irish education. It is also good to see the National Parents' Council (Post Primary) emerging as a forceful voice in this debate. Until now, parents have punched below their weight in Irish education. But there is the sense that they have, at last, found their place.
Predictably, both sides in the dispute are now in the trenches. The Government will give no quarter to the ASTI. The union - on the basis of comments made by former president, Ms Bernadine O'Sullivan, on radio yesterday - does not yet appear ready to compromise.
The speech by Mr Ahern deserves careful scrutiny. He warned the ASTI that the teachers "had better make up their minds" about their attitude to benchmarking and the PPF. Otherwise, he could not, and would not, negotiate with them. But Mr Ahern also pointedly said if there were issues on benchmarking or anything else in the Labour Court recommendation which needed to be clarified, the Government would be ready to do this. He added: "However it takes two, and it is time the ASTI played its part".
The ASTI is considering its response to the Taoiseach's invitation and it appears that the Labour Court is ready to revisit this dispute - as it has several others - if it can be of help. The teachers rushed to dismiss the eight-page Labour Court recommendation when it was issued, but it is a subtle and flexible document which could still provide the basis for an agreement. The Court has a long and distinguished record as an honest broker in industrial disputes in this State. When the ASTI Standing Committee meets today, it faces a stark choice. Does it accept the legitimate industrial relations machinery of this State or does it continue to travel on its own down the current, ruinous path?