This years ASTI convention is beside the sea in Bundoran, Co Donegal.TP hopes the long drive to the north-west will pacify some of the delegates who were accused last year of giving a parent's representative a "bunch-of fives" in the hotel bar.

That representative, Pat O'Herlihy, is no longer involved in the parent's movement, so at least he should escape any late night confrontations this time out.

However other parents representatives have been invited to attend.

But notable by her absence will be the bête noire of the ASTI, Barbara Johnston, who mysteriously has not been invited to break bread with the teachers. Her calling members of the union "terrorists" in a famous article last year wouldn't have anything to do with it, would it?

We note that the ASTI is now giving Barbara the cold shoulder treatment in other ways. On TV3 the other day, the union president, Catherine Fitzpatrick, refused to be interviewed with her. It brings back memories of when Ulster Unionists would not share the screen with Martin McGuinness et al. Silly isn't it?

• The battle for the hearts and minds of primary principals continues with the IPPN and INTO both vying for their attention.

At the IPPN conference in Galway, its director Sean Cottrell was full of fire and brimstone, but not quite as passionate as last year.

John Carr, the incoming INTO boss, managed to swing the delegates around, even though many appear to be unhappy with the INTO's representation on their behalf.

With both sides turning down the rhetoric for the moment, an uneasy truce has broken out. But how long will it last?

• Does anyone remember the taskforce on autism?

The report suggested a raft of reforms of the badly neglected area of special needs, but since it was published exclusively in this newspaper a few months ago, not a peep from the Department.

It has since been referred to in several recent cases on autism, but the Department officials apparently maintain it has still not been published.

Obviously front page treatment in a national newspaper and several items on RTÉ and other radio stations is not regarded as "published" by the mandarins in Marlborough Street. And it is also on the Department's own website.

However, with the mother of Jamie Sinnott, Kathy, gearing up to run in the general election, the issue of facilities for autistic children will not go away.

Got any education gossip? You can e-mail TP at teacherspet@irish-times.ie