Minister of State for further education Niall Collins appealed for the ASTI teachers’ union to go back into talks on the Leaving Cert for the sake of students.

Although the ASTI yesterday pulled out of talks after a row on calculated grades, it said it is working to “break the impasse” after meeting with the government today.

Kieran was joined by the minister along with former teacher and union activist Joe Moran to discuss the issue.