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Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

Bruton says he can't restore young teachers' pay as it would mean cutting children's resources

A ballot of members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) rejected the government’s new public pay deal this evening.

FULLY RESTORING TEACHERS’ pay would mean the government would have to cut back on resources for school children, said Education Minister Richard Bruton.

The minister told reporters at the Fine Gael think-in in Clonmel that he “fully understood” the position of the trade unions: that younger teachers should receive equal pay.

However, he said young teachers were “protected” during the difficult years of the recession, when recruitment continued, but at a lower pay scale.

A ballot of members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) rejected the government’s new public pay deal this evening.

In rejecting the pay deal this evening, TUI President Joanne Irwin said: “It is morally wrong that two colleagues are placed on significantly different pay scales although carrying out the same work.”

Last week, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) recommended that its 18,000 members should reject the new public service pay agreement.

Unions continue to state that it is unfair that younger teachers’ pay is not the same level as some of their colleagues (it amounts to around €3,000 a year in the difference).

Rejection of the pay deal – which is expected to be ratified on Monday – by two teachers unions would be a major headache for government, particularly if it results in strike action.

Bruton said he does not have the funds to fully restore teachers’ pay at the moment, as it would cost upward of €250 million across the whole public service.

“We have to balance the request and desire of teachers unions, which I fully understand, to all be on the same pay scale, with the needs that I have to put money into disadvantaged pupils, into apprenticeships, into special needs, into reducing class sizes, and I have to balance those two needs,” he said.

“I don’t have another €250 million in my vote to achieve something different. The only way that could be done would be denying children resources in their schools so I have to balance those.”

The minister also faces difficulties on the issue from within his own party.

Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor told reporters last month that she believed teachers who do the same work should be paid the same.

“I’m very cognisant of the issue around the younger teachers. What I believe is that there are many teachers in staff rooms paid differently, they go through seniority, and get more money.”

RTÉ’s education correspondent Emma O’Kelly asked the minister for clarity on the issue, and O’Connor replied:

“You said that everyone who does the same job deserves the same pay…”

Well I think they do and I’m going to stand by that comment.

“In relation to teachers too?” asked O’Kelly.

“That’s my comment,” said the minister, nodding.

At the time, Bruton said that the funding wasn’t available to meet those pay demands.

Read: Government to crack down on landlords who retain deposits from renters>

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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:22 PM

    It sounds like they’re instructing replicants!

    196
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:48 PM

    Remember to be human to disguise your lack of empathy for humans that do not do believe everything we believe.

    199
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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:58 PM

    Someone call Rick Deckard quick !!!!!

    59
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    Mute andrew
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:52 PM

    Talk about setting unrealistic goals

    30
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    Mute Wastrel
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    Apr 30th 2015, 12:38 AM

    Enough is enough: it’s time for mandatory Voight-Kampff testing for all candidates for public office.

    29
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    Mute Hermes
    Favourite Hermes
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    Apr 30th 2015, 8:00 AM

    What this really means is that Merrill Lynch have given the Green Light for an election – why now with this video ?
    Silly politicians and their bankers’ plans !

    9
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    Mute Hermes
    Favourite Hermes
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    Apr 30th 2015, 8:02 AM

    “Conquest and winning ” – that comes in the poll booth –
    The language of the British ! The language of the Mason !

    Bye bye Renua !

    15
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Apr 30th 2015, 10:11 AM

    I’ll tell ya they shouldn’t forget…to close the fkn gate on the way out!

    6
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    Mute Mick McDonagh
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:24 PM

    “Pretend to be human!”

    178
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    Mute UndercoverGarda
    Favourite UndercoverGarda
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:17 PM

    Why you no not not believe there intelligent robotic beings be? Ha ha ha. There be no intelligent robotic beings on Earth (Proxima 23-XER) and certainly not not on Betelgeuse-12. Ha ha ha you inferior being be!

    14
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    Mute Were Jammin
    Favourite Were Jammin
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:35 PM

    ‘And remember, even though you were elected for fine gael, were a lifelong member of fine gael, and would still be in fine gael if the legislating for the x case thing hadn’t happened……you’re nothing like fine gael’

    133
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    Mute Jason
    Favourite Jason
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:29 PM

    Better than Sinn Fein 8 days of the week

    48
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    Mute Hermes
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    Apr 30th 2015, 7:31 AM

    And Fine Gael still take funding from central government for people who are no longer members of their party – it shows how useless Lucinda is that she cannot bring that simple court case before a judge …
    It’s like a farmer claiming grants on sheep that have left his farm – and we know there are rules and fines against those kind of things !
    Very weak in the brain department Renua is !
    Pretending to be politicians morelike !
    Still excellent video for the reptilian conspiracy theorists !

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    Mute John McCole
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    Apr 30th 2015, 8:40 AM

    Now now Jason, watch the video no back biting.

    7
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    Mute legoman❗
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:22 PM

    Can’t wait for them to call to my home, they’ll be getting some amount of abuse.

    114
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    Mute jaisus
    Favourite jaisus
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:25 PM

    Bible bashers looking for a vote… :-D

    92
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    Mute Liberté et Egalité
    Favourite Liberté et Egalité
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:46 PM

    Where do they stand on shellfish? And will they enact laws preventing fishermen from Killybegs (na Cealla Beaga) fetching them back to port?

    51
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    Mute FairR
    Favourite FairR
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:23 PM

    Assuming by the fact that this was only meant for candidates since it’s only allowed for people with a link I’m going to go ahead and assume it was private and say Renua probably leaked it themselves to try show voters how they’re different and if it was meant to be public it was clearly all for show.

    106
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    Mute Charles Fogarty
    Favourite Charles Fogarty
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:23 PM

    I watched a similar video in the late nineties during my training sessions to try sell plastic sh*t door to door.

    99
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    Mute Ross Stewart
    Favourite Ross Stewart
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:50 PM

    Even though they can act like a human, you can still see their eyes blinking sideways. Dead giveaway

    76
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    Mute Symbolism
    Favourite Symbolism
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:35 PM

    Big assumption that anyone will open their door to them.

    75
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    Mute ss
    Favourite ss
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:28 PM

    Four right wing, white collar criminal parties…… help!

    71
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    Mute Setrakian
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:06 PM

    Political wasteland beckons for these no hopers. Re Olda would be more apt. Same faces – same insincere bullsh*t. No thanks FG lite but I look forward to telling you in person if you manage to get past the dog!

    53
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    Mute Keniby Khronicles
    Favourite Keniby Khronicles
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:34 PM

    “You’ve heard about people being busy, Poochie should be Biz-ay.”
    “When Poochie is off screen, the other characters should be asking ‘wheres Poochie?’”

    52
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    Mute Seán Callaghan
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:52 PM

    A mortgage broker is the ethics officer ?

    49
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    Mute Cupid Stunt
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:48 PM

    Must be a strange concept for politions to act like humans, looks like the taxpayers will be on the hook again for a jamboree to Florida to attend a seminar on acting human.

    46
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    Mute Anthony Lang
    Favourite Anthony Lang
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:00 PM

    Karl Deeter is noted for his strong advocacy in favour of the Banks and their tough and unrelenting approach to mortgage arrears. I don’t see much sign of humanity and compassion to his approach on homelessness and mortgage arrears.

    43
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    Mute little jim
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:48 PM

    The robot party.

    43
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    Mute @Colser
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:21 PM

    What a wally. Total whack jobs

    39
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    Mute Hermes
    Favourite Hermes
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    Apr 30th 2015, 7:32 AM

    They want to fool the people into thinking they are human and empathetic –

    I have a very simple rule – If they were on R.T.E. – be very suspicious !

    7
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:05 PM

    They appear to be instructing androids (or imps of Satan) on how to pass for human. ’nuff said.

    36
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    Mute Dave McG
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:00 PM

    “If they say they would simply never vote for a Renua candidate that’s also ok. This country has a strong tradition of deep loyalties to certain parties that, whether they deserve it or not, people will behave the same way.”

    That’s right, if someone won’t vote for you, it’s because of long-standing loyalties to other parties, not because you are a terrible terrible party – but skip over THAT part because you can only be a victim of other people’s conviction NOT of your own failings.

    F**k’s sake, Renua.

    This video continues Renua’s short-lived but still relatively long-standing history of displaying zero self-awareness whatsoever.

    35
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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:54 PM

    Well said.

    17
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    Mute Jay Warner
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:16 PM

    I think they forgot “pretend” in that instruction to their minions

    34
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    Mute Noreen Lunney
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:04 PM

    ahh so the aliens have finally arrived.

    30
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    Mute Martin O Donnell
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:03 PM

    Haha for anyone who has tyred to engage with Terence Flanagan this is a joke ….

    30
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    Mute B A C
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    Apr 29th 2015, 9:33 PM

    Dont act like a dildo head

    29
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    Mute helixjo1
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:06 PM

    Sweet production values. Bet that AV student got a merit on their cert.

    24
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    Mute Connor Barry
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    Apr 30th 2015, 12:10 AM

    Slick… as roll of sandpaper.

    22
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    Mute Startled Sapien
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:01 PM

    “I am a real human being,
    I am a real human being
    I am a real human bean,
    I am a real true-man bean,
    I am the real bean, this is true,
    I am the seed of a plant, true?
    I am Ozymandias with a CGI penis.
    Thank you”

    22
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    Mute Tammylee Murphy
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:45 PM

    They’ve been silent on where they stand with regard to the upcoming referendum… or anything for that matter.

    21
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    Mute Al Ca
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:09 PM

    I’m sure I seen these guys on Stargate.

    19
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    Mute Chauncey Gardiner
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:02 PM

    What’s Karl Deeter doing on Fair City?!! Comedy moment of the year!

    16
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    Mute Thomas Hanlon
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:37 PM

    Trash talk and bitching very American

    16
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    Mute Maoist Dong
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    Apr 29th 2015, 11:01 PM

    I was hoping they would be more to the right. No such luck. There isn’t a single party worth anyone’s vote.

    10
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    Mute Jonathan Bambury
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    Apr 30th 2015, 2:59 AM

    That video is tragically bad …. its a lesson in how to conduct yourself in front of strangers for complete morons , is that who they are planning on sending to doorsteps ?
    Even the fact that the turkey is standing in the way on the footpath …. rookie

    9
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Apr 29th 2015, 10:27 PM

    Non voting non member?
    Did he learn that from Gerry Adams?

    9
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    Mute Patrick James Walsh
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    Apr 30th 2015, 12:39 AM

    It`s the invasion of the body snatchers.

    9
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    Mute Irish Druid
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    Apr 30th 2015, 1:31 AM

    As opposed to barking like a dog.

    7
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    Mute martin.
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    Apr 30th 2015, 9:24 AM

    And remember to keep up the fake smile and pull the wool over there eyes,
    Send them a letter stating that you are waiting on a reply to sort there problem,
    Another shower of money grabbing crooks,
    Fine gael+1

    2
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    Mute Dermot O Reilly
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    Apr 30th 2015, 6:43 PM

    Does Renua support a yes or no vote in the Referendum ?

    It’s time for tr,ugh and honesty!

    1
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    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
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    Apr 30th 2015, 3:21 PM

    All Political Parties are just Private Clubs who will max your tax for their own interests.
    However, there is some merit in the Renua proposal to reduce the voting age to 25 as older voters shouldn’t be allowed near a polling booth ever again in the future, considering the right mess they made of the country by repeatedly voting for political parties / private ‘whipped’ clubs. Independents at 26% in the polls means that the Party of Choice is “No Party”. Irish are waking up!

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    Mute Pol O Misteal
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    Apr 30th 2015, 11:28 AM

    This is the man who used the term “pinkos” to describe poverty action campaigners on vincent brown. Totally unsuitable to public life.

    1
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