The Education Minister says it was difficult to be heckled by teachers at the ASTI yesterday, but that it’s part and parcel of being a politician.

Ruairi Quinn addressed the Teachers’ Union of Ireland this afternoon, where he got a much more courteous response.

And Minister Quinn says he accepts the apology offered by General Secretary of the ASTI;

Earlier the Education Minister was accused of destroying the lives of young people with cuts to guidance counsellors.

Teachers were also united in their opposition to Junior Cycle reform, which they say is unfair to pupils.

Juliette Gash reports from the TUI conference in Kilkenny;