The Irish Federation of University Teachers says its extremely disappointed by what it calls the behaviour of the Minister for Education.

It's understood Jan O'Sullivan has cancelled her planned attendance at their annual delegate conference today.

The union along with SIPTU is involved in a dispute with University College Cork over pay parity for staff at the Tyndall research institute their.

A number of days of pickets are taking place this month - her cancellation is said to be in connection with this row.

Miniser O'Sullivan's office  says she cancelled by letter on Wednesday but General Secretary of IFUT Mike Jennings says it was by text yesterday: