Teacher trade unions to discuss change to vaccine roll-out

The annual conferences of the country's three teacher trade unions begin online this morning.

Debate at the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and Teachers' Union of Ireland congresses looks set to be dominated by reaction to last week’s Government decision to change the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out from an occupation-based schedule to one based on age.

Emergency motions on the issue are expected to be tabled for discussion at all three gatherings.

Over the weekend the unions, whose leaderships favour a united approach to the issue, were exploring whether a joint motion could be agreed.

Emergency motions on the vaccine roll-out may include calls for ballots to be held calling for industrial action.