Teachers' actions

Madam, – The Irish economy has suffered the worst crash in the history of the State and is one of the worst performers in the…

Madam, – The Irish economy has suffered the worst crash in the history of the State and is one of the worst performers in the current global recession. Unemployment is skyrocketing and the public sector has suffered pay cuts more savage than anywhere else in the developed world. Meanwhile the Government pours tens of billions down the the rotten cesspool called Anglo Irish Bank.

Despite all this, Ann Marie Hourihane denounces teachers at their annual conferences for . . . wait for it . . . bad behaviour.

If this were a real republic like France, there would be violent demonstrations outside Dáil Éireann and the Government would be toppled by mass action. But here in twee “Old Irelande”, we can’t have bad behaviour, let alone, God forbid, “militancy”.

Not so much the “Old Lady of D’Olier Street”, more a senile, reactionary old battleaxe. – Yours, etc,

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PHELIM MURNION,

Páirc An Spidéal,

Gaillimh.

Madam, – Paradoxical, is it not, that, on the day when page 6 carries pictures and reports of the annual conference of the Law Society and page 7 pictures and reports of the Irish Medical Organisation conference, poor Ann Marie Hourihane (Opinion, April 12th) tells us neither doctors nor lawyers attend conferences.

Report card: A little less opinion and a little more analysis, Ann Marie. Homework shoddy. – Yours, etc,

LIAM McGOWAN,

Letterkenny,

Co Donegal.

Madam, – Does anyone else find the irony of teachers protesting for higher pay during their two weeks Easter holidays amusing? God help us all when they are on their three months’ summer holidays. – Yours, etc,

Dr FERGUS McCARTHY,

Leslies Arch,

Old Quarter,

Ballincollig,

Co Cork.