29th February 2024
The INTO Northern Conference kicks off in The Europa Hotel, Belfast on Friday 1 March. The Conference is set to hear from members on the issues of pay, recruitment and retention, school funding and special educational needs. The Minister of Education, Paul Givan MLA, is set to speak at the conference at 12.00pm. INTO Northern Secretary, Mark McTaggart will respond to the Minister. The first public session will start at 10.00am, with conference concluding on Saturday afternoon.
Other speakers will include Belfast City Council, Deputy Lord Mayor Áine Groogan, INTO Northern Committee Chair, Caoimhin MacColaim and INTO President, Dorothy McGinley.
The theme of this year’s Conference is ‘Stronger Together.’ There are approximately 250 attendees (150 delegates and 100 guests) expected at the conference.
INTO Northern Secretary, Mark McTaggart said:
I am delighted to welcome delegates from across the North to the annual INTO Northern conference, held at the Europa Hotel in Belfast. The past number of years have been incredibly challenging. Our fight for a fair pay settlement for our members was long and arduous, culminating in the largest ever campaign of industrial action to take place in the region. However, we gather in Belfast, united in our purpose.
This conference is a platform for us to come together, raise our voices, and demand real change. We must hold the Executive accountable for the lack of investment in our schools, and work towards resolving the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis that is plaguing our education system.
Together, we can ensure that every child in Northern Ireland has access to a quality education.
Northern Conference is an Annual Regional Conference held in Northern Ireland. Northern Conference sets the agenda for INTO in the north, and each year sets the work programme for the Northern Committee and the Officials of the union for the coming year.
The Conference debates motions and amendments/addenda submitted by branches and districts. It also considers the Northern Committee’s Annual Report. All public conference sessions are recorded and will be available for members to view on the website, post Conference.
More information about Northern Conference can be found here.