LIMERICK IT: The Teachers Union of Ireland branch at Limerick IT has unanimously passed a motion threatening industrial action if the Minister for Education, Dr Michael Woods, fails to instigate a sworn inquiry into an exam-cheating case by this Thursday.
Last November, the college director, JP MacDonagh, asked the minister to establish the inquiry and suspended a college department head, Gerry O'Loughlin, on full pay.
A Department of Education spokesman at the time said there would be "an early decision".
Since then it has been referred to the Attorney General's office for legal advice.
The case involves a construction studies student, Cormac O'Loughlin, son of Gerry. The student was suspended for two years after admitting he photocopied model answers he had removed from his father's office while it was vacant.
The punishment was criticised as being too lenient by the former High Court judge, Rory O'Hanlon, who investigated the incident last year. He also suggested O'Loughlin senior had made "a misguided attempt" to assist his son.
The TUI motion was that: "This Branch deplores the failure of the Minister for Education and Science to set up the sworn enquiry as per motion passed at Special Branch Meeting on 25 September 2000 and calls on the Minister to set up the inquiry before 14 February 2002."
It continued: "In the event of the continuing failure to set up the inquiry past this date a ballot for industrial action will be held on 18 February, 2002."
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