O’Keeffe hopes teachers will not strike
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe says he hopes "sense will prevail" and teachers will not engage in industrial action.
Mr O'Keeffe was responding to the news that Ireland's three main teaching unions, which represent 60,000 teachers have voted to take industrial action in protest at the Government's controversial pension levy.
The ASTI, the TUI and the INTO say the action will only be avoided if the Government re-engages with trade unions to devise a fair and equitable way to address the economic crisis.
Mr O'Keeffe has responded by saying that everybody has "to work together in the national interest".
Earlier, Junior Education Minister Sean Haughey expressed disappointment at the strike threats by Ireland's three main teaching unions.
Mr Haughey says the Government wants to work with teachers to resolve any difficulties and will engage with the unions to prevent strike action.
