The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, denied yesterday he was "anti-teacher" and defended his controversial decision to launch pre-Christmas inspections of schools.
The INTO general secretary, Mr John Carr, had earlier described the decision to send inspectors into schools on December 23rd last as a "breach of trust" which involved "sending spies into our schools".
The inspections were ordered to ensure that schools were open and complying with the new common school year, as agreed under the benchmarking deal.
To prolonged applause, Mr Carr said this was an affront to the profession. "Primary teachers were rightly angered by such an over-reaction. They know the impossibility of getting an inspector when there is a real issue such as lack of teaching resources or dangerous buildings . . . Is it any wonder teachers still feel resentment?" he asked.
Mr Dempsey said that he wanted to repeat what he had said consistently since taking office. "I take huge pride in the dedication, commitment and excellence of the teaching profession. We have one of the best education systems in the world because we have many of the best teachers in the world. Full stop."
Later, at a press briefing, he said that up to one in four schools had not complied with the common school year, which requires the vast majority of schools to close at the same time. "My office was contacted by parents advising that various schools were not adhering to the commitments," he said.
"If I had ignored what was put to me, the benchmarking agreement would have been threatened. The vast majority of schools could also rightly ask why a blind eye was turned to the non-compliance by the minority," he said.
On pensions, Mr Carr said the Budget decision to raise the retirement age to 65 years for all new teachers was "an unprecedented and treacherous attack" on the profession's conditions of service.
"The fact that its main impact may be 40 years away does not quell our anger or lessen our opposition to what is a grievous injustice. We believe passionately that teaching should be considered as a special case along with gardaí, fire-fighters and prison officers.
Existing teachers can retire after 40 years' service on full pension or on a reduced pension after 35 years, provided they are 55 years of age. But this arrangement will not be available to new teachers.
Mr Carr also demanded a range of special payments for principals. Applications for such posts were declining, he said.
