The Education Minister has been repeatedly heckled and jeered at the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland annual meeting.

Ruairi Quinn's address to the ASTI delegates was interrupted on a number of occasions, while a number of teachers walked out.

The Minister took the opportunity of his speech to robustly defend his plans to reform the Junior Cycle.

From Wexford, our News Correspondent Fergal O'Brien reports:ASTI delegate uses a megaphone to disrupt Minister Quinn's speech:

There was also continuous heckling, jeering and booing: 

The Education Minister says he didn't intend to be provocative in his address.

Ruairi Quinn says he just wanted to be open and honest:The President of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland says she can't condone the reception given to the Education Minister.

Sally Maguire says she is very disappointed by the treatment he received: