Some tea and sympathy for teachers united against Ahern's comments

If the Taoiseach intended to create division among striking teachers by attacking their union's campaign strategy the policy seems to have backfired, judging from reactions on the picket yesterday.

The consensus among teachers who yesterday began a series of one-day strikes in Dublin city and county was that Mr Ahern's description of the dispute as "partly about a power struggle within the ASTI" served only to unite them further.

And, let's face it: who else is listening?

The general public seems to be paying scant attention to the nuances of this dispute or, for that matter, the public relations war surrounding it.

"Total indifference - that's how I'd describe it," said Mr John Doyle, a teacher at the Catholic University School on Leeson Street. "We've been getting hardly any reaction, good or bad, from passers-by. If you don't have any kids sitting an exam, I suppose, you're not really going to care."

Criticising the Taoiseach's remarks, Mr Doyle said the alleged leadership struggle within the union was "a side issue . . . People are still united in trying to see this through."

Mr Declan Campbell, an art teacher at Loreto College, St Stephen's Green, echoed the view, describing the issue raised by Mr Ahern as "irrelevant".

One teacher described as "a distraction" the Government's decision to penalise teachers for their work-to-rule action and said the union should not have made talks conditional on the repayment of docked money.

Another said the union was concentrating too much on the pay issue and should highlight instead the need for a comprehensive package of reforms, including an improved career structure and a reduction in the use of casual labour.

"One issue which has barely been raised is the 2,500 parttime teachers out there who are going to have to work six or seven years before they get a fulltime job," said one chemistry teacher, who did not wish to be named.

"No one in their right mind would become a teacher at the moment. I've been temping three years now. Another year and I think I'll give it up."

Meanwhile, a short walk away it was business as usual at the Institute of Education, one of the State's largest private second-level colleges.

Make that "business better than usual".

Enrolments on evening and Saturday revision courses were up 10 per cent over Christmas and were due to rise by a further 1520 per cent over Easter, said the owner, Mr Ray Kearns. "Our full-time day courses are at capacity."

He said it was unfortunate the docked-pay issue had undermined the talks process, adding: "If I had the two or three million pounds myself I'd gladly pay it just to get the two sides to start talking. Unfortunately, it has become a matter of principle for both sides".

Not just a matter of principle, it seems, but of pride.

"The timing and manner of the deductions really got to people," said the teacher picketing Catholic University School, Mr Doyle. "They've hardened what were moderate attitudes and undoubtedly prolonged this dispute."

As he spoke, a construction worker arrived from across the street to offer him and his fellow picketers tea. An indication that public opinion was swinging in the teachers' favour?

Perhaps not, but at least it showed they weren't being completely ignored.