Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan has not been invited to address teachers at their annual trade union conference which takes place in just over a month.

Tradition states that Minister for Education attends the convention, however this year Jan O’Sullivan will not be invited.

Five years ago, Minister Mary Coughlan was not invited to the conference due to a row over education cuts. It has been suggested that the Minister has not been invited over the Junior Cert reform row.

Pat King, General Secretary of the ASTI, spoke to Lunchtime today and stated that the Minister has not been snubbed but that the lack of invitation was simply because of a lack of decision on the matter by the Executive.

He said: "There was a discussion in January as to who we invite and there was a deferral of the decision about inviting the Minister. We were extremely busy with the dispute over the Junior Cycle which is ongoing.

"The issue of inviting the Minsiter wasn't revisited by our Executive so the Minister hasn't been invited to the conference.

"It's certainly not a slight. We would never seek to offend or slight any Government minister or any politician for that matter. Just no decision was taken on inviting the Minister and the Minister hasn't been invited."

Jonathan asked why not ask the Minister now to which Mr King responded: "I don't think it would be fair to invite anyone with a couple of weeks to go. The Minister's diary will be well-organised by now."

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