Micheál Martin is up first on his feet and he raises the issue of the day – strike action of teachers.

He says the government has failed in their engagement with the unions and questions why no pathway has been given to workers, particularly in relation to the pay for younger teachers.

“They are the real victims,” says Martin when speaking about Leaving Cert students.

He says the schools should have been open for those students.

“A greater effort should have been made,” he adds.

He asks the Taoiseach if there was a failure in contingency planning.

Taosieach Enda Kenny is defending the government’s path forward and says teachers could not open up the school for some students due to health and safety reasons, something Martin disagrees with.

Kenny says benefits are on the table now for ASTI members and he hopes talks will continue and draw to a close soon and schools can reopen.

He admits that it is in no way an “ideal situation”.

“Hoping isn’t going to solve it,” answers Martin. He reiterates his point that it is the Leaving Cert students that are the victims in this situation.

“I think it was within the capacity [to open schools],” says Martin.

Why can’t the government come out and tell the new teachers what the pathway is for them to getting equal pay, asks Martin.

The Fianna Fail leader said it would go some way to solve the dispute.

There is a willingness to see the end of this dispute, the Taoiseach tells the chamber.

Kenny says he does not accept that the department was lax in dealing with this situation,

“There is money on the table to pay them,” says Kenny.

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams is up now. He says that teachers were effectively locked out of their workplace yesterday.

He says teachers would much rather be in their classrooms than on the picket line.

“Young teachers are earning up to 12,000 Euro less,” he tells the chamber.

Is that fair? asks Adams.

Will you agree that the Lansdowne Road Agreement has to be replaced with a new agreement, asks Adams.

Adams asks Taoiseach to put on the record that government has an ambition of pay equality.

Kenny says pulling out of 33 extra hours is to blame for today’s strike action.

The Taoiseach said that in the “interest of the children” that element should be focused on and sorted out immediately.

Taoiseach says there is an opportunity for teachers to get pay increase of 15%-22% under the agreement.

Michael Collins, Independent TD for Cork South West is now telling the chamber about coast guard services.

He asks the Taoiseach to enact legislation to protect the coastguard and provide additional resources to the service.

“No one can disagree with that sentiment,” said Kenny.

Kenny says no one can underestimate the courage of the men and women that give up their time voluntarily to help save lives.

The services of the coastguard and RNLI are “very much valued by the people” says Kenny.

Taoiseach says the legislation is one that can be discussed, put he says the government are committed to giving the resources to the coastguard that are needed.

Back to teachers now…

Independent TD Seamus Healy is up now and accusing the Taoiseach and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe have broken their promise to teachers.

“You are using students as pawns in order to bully the ASTI into an agreement,” says Healy.

“Stop locking out teachers and using students as hostages,” he added.

He tells the Taoiseach to leave William Martin Murphy in his grave.

Kenny commends Healy on his knowledge of history but says it is wrong to say the government are locking teachers and students out of schools.

Healy says claim that ASTI withdrew from hours is false and says that his claim that there is no money to pay any extra is also false, stating that this government continues to give benefits to the wealthiest people in this country.

“The super rich in this country have oodles of money,” he says, adding that a small tax on the rich would deliver the funds.

“Money is on the table to pay those teachers now,” says Taosieach.

Again, he says he hopes for as speedy resolution.

Ruth Coppinger is up, and trying to get in on questions. An Ceannn Comhairle tells her to resume her seat.

Richard Boyd Barrett is up now and is proposing a debate on the whole issue of the strike action of teachers. He says proposals could be put forward tomorrow as to how best to resolve the dispute.

“I am asking for a bit of urgency,” he says.

Some raised voices now – it doesn’t seem to be a popular idea.

Regina Doherty and Boyd Barrett are having a heated discussion on it now. He says if the government doesn’t think that this is an urgent issue they are living on another planet.

That’s it for Leaders’ Questions today. You can tune in here for further proceedings.

Join us again tomorrow for more happenings in the Dail chamber.