Sir - What a brave letter (March 16th) from the secondary school teacher Joe Coy, expressing disagreement with the ASTI's tactics in this dispute. I agree with everything he says. What a contrast to the childish squabbling of the participants in RTE's Prime Time programme last Thursday. Willie O'Dea and Roisin Shortall should be ashamed of themselves. Rather than trying to score points from this disastrous dispute the political parties should work together to resolve it.
I have no respect for the handling of this dispute by either the Government or the ASTI. They have allowed themselves become too deeply entrenched in their positions, leaving no room for manoeuvre. The reality is that this dispute, like all past public service disputes, will
be resolved by some form of compromise. So, for the sake of everybody (particularly the State exam candidates) the parties should swallow their pride, get off their high horses and get on with reaching the compromise now rather than later. Maybe the way forward is to hear more from teachers like Joe Coy - or, more to the point, let the ASTI hear from them and take heed. - Yours, etc.,
R. Gilmartin, Blackrock, Co Dublin.