Minister for education and skills Ruairi Quinn has called on secondary-level teachers to vote in favour of accepting the government's latest teaching pay proposals.

Speaking in Dublin at the Royal Irish Academy, he urged members of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) to vote to end the dispute between the government and the teaching profession when they are balloted by the trade union, reports the Irish Times.

It was confirmed earlier this month that a ballot will take place to determine whether or not ASTI will accept the Haddington Road proposals. The union's central executive council has recommended that members reject the latest deal.

ASTI maintains its position that the government's budget cuts and austerity measures are harming education standards, but Mr Quinn says he believes accepting the latest proposals is in teachers' best interests.

The education minister said: "The matter has now gone out to 70,000 member of a trade union. I would ask all members to consider the implications and consider what is on offer quite carefully."

Written by Donal Walsh

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