2024 NA CN 1 Motion on Housing Affordability Definition
Comhdháil believes:
Projects funded through capital grants to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), on the premise of affordability, lack clarity on the condition of ‘affordability,’ leading to potential inconsistencies and the misuse of State funds when such projects do not satisfy their purpose of providing affordable Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).
Comhdháil is concerned:
That the undefined nature of the affordability condition poses a risk to student renters, and for it to be effective, there is a need for a clear definition, including a reference to a specific price ceiling that is enforced on those projects.
Comhdháil believes:
USI advocates for outlining affordability terms as a percentage of the minimum wage, until the living wage replaces it, taking into consideration students’ part-time employment and realistic income levels.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
That while in the maximalist demand housing should be free, affordability should be defined by the USI in the minimalist demand as the monthly rent being up to 30% of a monthly national minimum wage net income, for both private and public purpose-built student accommodation.
Comhdháil also mandates:
That this definition of affordable housing be used not just for purpose-built student accommodation but for all housing by the USI, and that the USI holds the government accountable using this definition, while ultimately campaigning for free housing.
–
2024 NA CN 2 Motion on Legalisation of Drugs
Comhdháil respects
That decriminalisation of drugs is a step in the right direction, but considering the benefits of a legalised approach, this only presents as a compromise.
Comhdháil worries
That only Cannabis would be decriminalised, without the implementation of country-wide, easy access drug identification & testing centres or harm reduction campaigns. Some politicians & TDs may use this as a sign that they are ”progressive” for their own personal gain, all the while disregarding the people who are directly impacted by the prohibition and war on drugs. Regardless, real-life examples of decriminalisation should be enough proof to start changing our drug policies, such as the case with Portugal with drug overdoses and imprisonment cases.
Comhdháil recognises
That the legalisation of drugs allows for a completely regulated market that has oversight by the Government and its Departments. The benefits of this could be, but is not limited to:
- Reduction in crime, corruption and funding of criminal organisations.
- Access to safe drugs that are not contaminated or laced with other substances such
- as Fentanyl.
- Access to drugs with a labelled degree of strength/potency.
- Access to drugs for medical use.
- Access to better education and harm reduction services for all people who use drugs.
- Supporting local businesses, farmers and other establishments with a local production & supply of drugs (such as the case with Peru and Bolivia’s Coca industry).
- Tax revenue that can be directed towards drug treatment services, education and harm reduction.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The Coiste Gnó to lobby the government for the legalisation of drugs.
Comhdháil further mandates
The VP for Welfare and the VP for Campaigns to organise and hold campaigns lobbying for the legalisation of drugs and make submissions on relevant consultations.
This should include work with NGOs in this area, specifically including writing legislation and working on organisations on informational campaigns.
2024 NA CN 3 Motion on Fair Pay for Fair Work
Comhdháil notes
- That many working students under the age of 20 are paid less than the current National Minimum Wage, which for young people under 18 years old is only €7.91 in the south of Ireland and as low as £4.81 in the north of Ireland.
- That the youth committees of Mandate TU, UNITE the Union, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions established a campaign addressing this on the evening of Monday 29th May, with the intention of gaining support from like-minded bodies such as USI-AMLÉ before a public launch at ICTU’s Biennial Delegate Conference in July 2023.
- That this campaign seeks to abolish sub-minimum rates of pay – in practice and legislation – through campaigning and amendments to the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, and the right to request additional hours of work.
- That the ICTU Youth Committee has sought the support of USI-AMLÉ and it’s Member Organisations.
- The passing of motion UO24 at Comhdháil 2023, indicating USI-AMLÉ’s intention to develop closer links with ICTU to campaign on issues which effect young people.
Comhdháil believes:
That a Fair day’s work deserves Fair pay, and sub-minimum rates of pay are a form of age-discrimination which uniquely affects young people, for whom we are one of the island’s leading representative bodies.
That young people are entitled to more control over the hours they work, and employers must not abuse them by keeping large reserves of under-employed staff.
Comhdháil mandates:
That the USI-AMLÉ publicly support the young trade unionist lead campaign to abolish sub-minimum rates, and the right to additional hours.
That the Coiste Gnó and Regional VPs will cooperate with the campaign by encouraging MOs to engage.
2024 NA CN 5 Motion on Transgender Healthcare & Harm Reduction Campaign
Comhdháil notes:
Transgender Healthcare and Gender Affirming care in Ireland was ranked the worst in the EU among the 27 member states in October 2022. This ranking was announced by Transgender Europe (TGEU) which is a group funded by the EU and campaigns for the “complete depathologlisation of trans and gender-diverse identities”.
TGEU Trans Health Map shows the overall status of trans-specific healthcare in each EU member state based on information collected on 6 factors:
(a) type of trans healthcare and coverage available in the country;
(b) requirement for a psychiatric diagnosis before hormonal treatment or surgery; (c) waiting time for first appointment with a trans healthcare professional; (d) groups excluded or made to wait longer to access trans-specific healthcare; (e) youngest age for puberty blockers;
(f) youngest age for hormones.
Each member state could score up to two points for each of the six criteria. Out of a potential 12 points, Ireland received just one.
https://tgeu.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/tgeu-trans-health-map-2022-en.pdf
Comhdháil notes with concern:
According to the National Gender Service website the current waiting time for an initial assessment after referral is ‘between three and three and a half years’. This initial assessment is only obtained after the referral process which is also a lengthy process.
Due to the aforementioned barriers put in place to gender affirming care, many transgender students are turning to self medicating with hormones which are purchased online.
‘The NGS’s Current policy of advising GPs not to provide blood tests or HRT (hormone therapy) to patients who are ‘self-medicating’, such as by sourcing HRT online or accessing private trans healthcare services. Blood tests are required by trans people who are self-medicating or accessing private trans healthcare services as a basic safety check. However, these are currently being denied to trans patients because the NGS advises GPs not to provide them. Monitoring hormone levels via blood tests is an essential part of risk management, so advising GPs against doing so has a detrimental effect on trans people’s well-being.’
https://gcn.ie/trans-demand-gender-affirming-healthcare/
https://nationalgenderserviceireland.com/waiting-times-3/
Comhdháil commends:
The work being carried out to date by grassroots activist organisations in Ireland such as ‘Transgress the NGS’ and ‘Trans Harm Reduction’, the latter of which is carrying out a GP action project, organises laboratory testing of HRT sources, provides injection supplies, provides a healthcare fund and offers a peer support network.
Comhdháil believes:
Student Unions’ and USI have always been at the forefront of creating change in government policy and helping their members on the ground with the issues that they face.
Grassroots organisations such as ‘Transgress the NGS’ and ‘Trans Harm Reduction’ are key players in effecting changes for our students across the country.
Comhdháil mandates:
The VP Equality and Citizenship in conjunction with the VP Campaigns and VP Welfare reach out to these group and work on:
- Lobbying the government for a change in their policies and a stark improvement of the transgender healthcare offered in Ireland through whatever avenue the officers deem appropriate and most effective.
- Whilst this is being done, the aforementioned officers seek to work with these grassroots organisations to run a trans harm reduction campaign to offer students who are self-medicating or considering self-medicating access to clear and easily accessible harm reduction information.
2024 NA 1 General Election Campaign ****
Proposed by the Campaigns’ Strategy Committee
Comhdháil notes
The opportunity presented at the time of a general election which, with effective campaigning, could yield favorable results for the student movement, particularly the asks that have shaped union policy on the long term.
Comhdháil further notes
That during a general election time, organizations from across civil society will be working on securing favorable results for their cohorts through the production of general election campaigns that often include the production of organization manifestos, direct and collective lobbying, and effective voter mobilization.
Comhdháil believes
That the academic year 2024/25 will likely coincide with a general election campaign.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The VP Campaigns, through their work with the Campaigns’ Strategy Committee, to produce a student manifesto for the upcoming general election based on current USI policy, in the form of budgetary and legislative asks, and for the final draft of the manifesto to be presented no later than the sitting of Crossover Comhairle Naísiúnta.
Comhdháil further mandates
The VP for Campaigns to ensure the publicization of the manifesto through organizing launch events at various member organization campuses, the production of digestible promotional materials for circulation once the date of the general election is set, direct and collective lobbying, and organizing other national and local actions.
2024 NA 2 USI Student Accommodation Position Paper 2024-2027 ****
The USI Campaigns Strategy Committee
Comhdháil adopts:
The USI Student Accommodation Position Paper
Comhdháil Therefore Repeals:
20 N (NC) 8, 20 N (NC) 8B, EM 20 a 1, 2021 UO 16, 2021 UO 19, 2023 N (NC) 1
2024 NA 3 Motion on adopting the report by the Citizen’s Assembly on Drug Use to advocate for a health led approach ***
Proposed by: CMLOG
Comhdháil Notes: That the current regime of drug laws is draconian, disenfranchising, classist, and cruel.
Comhdháil Further Notes: That the criminalisation of drugs has impacted working class and disadvantaged areas disproportionally, causing thousands of deaths in deprived rural and urban areas.
Comhdháil Believes: That the recent report by the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use, which voted in favour of a health-led approach, is foundational document in the movement to decriminalise drugs, and to treat drug use as a healthcare issue.
Therefore, Comhdháil Mandates: That the USI Executive Committee campaign for the full implementation of the CA’s recommendations.
Comhdháil Further Mandates: That the USI VPs for Campaigns and Citizenship and Equality shall organise a national campaign for the decriminalisation of drugs, and to advocate for a health-led approach.
2024 NA 4 Unethical Investments Audit **
Proposed by the Campaigns Working Group
Comhdháil notes
That HEIs are public-private bodies that have autonomous investments through investment funds, endowment funds, staff pension funds, and other mechanisms.
Comhdháil further notes
That in their capacity as public bodies, HEIs fall under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
Comhdháil believes
That as such investments are a result of a mixture of student money and public funds, students must have full knowledge of where such money is being invested in, ensuring ethical considerations are at the core of such decisions.
Comhdháil further believes
That existing union policy advocates against unethical investments and for the campaigning of getting HEIs to divest from such unethical investments where they arise and which have been previously exposed to include investments in the fossil fuel and war industries, and in companies on the BDS list.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The VP for Campaigns leads an annual audit of the investment portfolios and external partnerships, whether academic or otherwise, of all HEIs through accessing such information under the mechanism devised under the FOI Act 2014 and to present the findings of such audit to the wider student population.
Comhdháil further mandates
The VP for Campaigns, where the findings of such an audit show that a HEI has investments that would be considered unethical according to existing union policy in this area, organize a campaign to get the HEI to divest such investments.
2024 NA 5 USI taking a stance on abolishing direct provision **
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Comhdháil notes with concern:
The alarming increase in hate crimes targeting refugees seeking asylum in Ireland in recent months. Individuals fleeing war-torn regions in search of safety and security, find themselves facing hostility and danger in a country that should offer them refuge.
Comhdháil notes:
Direct Provision was introduced as a short-term solution to help accommodate refugees, however, due to the failure of the Government, refugees have had to stay in Direct Provision for up to 7 years.
Comhdháil notes in conclusion:
That Refugees have been subject to hate crime and inhumane living situations whilst going through a multitude of traumatic experiences which include the process of seeking asylum itself.
Comhdháil applauds
The Abolish Direct Provision Campaign and Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) for their efforts to raise awareness on the issues facing refugees in Ireland.
Comhdháil mandates:
The USI VP Equality and Citizenship, with the support of the VP Campaigns to advocate for improved conditions for those seeking international protection in Ireland.
Comhdháil further mandates:
VP Campaigns to work with the Campaigns Strategy Committee to produce a position paper on Direct Provision by the September 2024 meeting of Comhairle Náisiúnta as step in the direction to ultimately take a position in favor of abolishing direct provision.
Amendment
Proposed by the Vice President for the Dublin Region
Replace Clause Comhdháil Notes with:
Comhdháil notes
The opportunity presented at the time of Local, European and General elections which, with effective campaigning, could yield favourable results for the student movement, particularly the asks that have shaped union policy on the long term.
Replace clause Comhdháil Further Notes with:
Comhdháil further notes
That during a the time of such elections, organizations from across civil society will be working on securing favourable results for their cohorts through the production of election campaigns that often include the production of organization manifestos, direct and collective lobbying, and effective voter mobilization.
Replace clause Comhdháil therefore mandates with:
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The VP Campaigns, through their work with the Coiste Gnó and the Campaigns’ Strategy Committee, to produce a student manifesto ahead of all such elections, based on current USI policy, in the form of budgetary and legislative asks, and for the final draft of the manifesto, where possible, to presented by the VP for Campaigns for the approval of Comhairle Naísíunta.
Replace clause Comhdháil further mandates with:
Comhdháil further mandates
The VP for Campaigns to ensure the publicization of the manifesto through organizing launch events at various member organization campuses, and through the production of digestible promotional materials for circulation once the date of such elections are set.
The VP for Campaigns, in conjunction with the USI President, to write a Student Guide to Elections which will inform the student body on the election relevant to student issues and interests, focusing on providing an overview of the political institution for which the election is being held, information from each party’s manifesto and the wider political landscape at the time of its publication.
The USI Coiste Gnó to run a campaign around the time of any such elections to improve student access to voting through lobbying for weekend voting, on campus polling stations and the eligibility to vote to be extended to those aged 16 and over.
2024 NA 6 Title Parity of Funding for Technological Universities
Proposed By: TU Dublin SU
Comhdháil Notes
Virtually all IOT’s (Institutes of Technology) across the island of Ireland have now merged to become TU’s (Technological Universities).
Comhdháil Notes with Concern
Despite some (very limited) progression in discussions / governmental pressure surrounding the borrowing capacity of TU’s, significant disparities still exist between the ability of TU’s to borrow money (from the government) compared to so-called ‘legacy institutions’.
Comhdháil Further Notes with Concern
The inability to borrow within TU’s is one of the primary factors preventing TU’s from investing in affordable PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation) i.e. without a framework, TU’s cannot borrow to build, meaning they are entirely reliant on capital grants, which will likely never appear (evidenced in the 434 million announcement that exists only within the context of a long-term, low-interest, loan system which TU’s cannot access).
Comhdháil Believes
The accelerated development of a Borrowing Framework for TU’s would remove barriers to the construction of PBSA within TU’s, allowing for greater equity across HEI’s on the island of Ireland, as well as alleviate pressure of the housing crisis on third-level students.
Comhdháil Therefore Mandates
The President and Coiste Gnó to consistently lobby the appropriate ministers in the Irish Government / the HEA to develop a Borrowing Framework before the 5 year limit on the ring-fenced ‘434 million’ for student housing dissipates.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The President to draw this to the attention of the HEA, to request all delegates at Comhdháil and SUT (Students’ Union Training) to send off drafted emails (draft prepared by the President) to the relevant ministers (list prepared by the President) demanding that a TU Dublin borrowing framework is expedited, given the implications on students across the island of Ireland, to publish an open letter to the relevant Ministers demanding the same, and all other actions requested at National Council (with appropriate majority of votes) deemed necessary to achieve this parity of funding for TU’s.
Comhdháil Therefore Appeals the motion ‘2021 AA NC 8’
Amendment
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Remove: Entire clause
“Comhdháil Further Mandates”
And Replace with:
“Comhdháil Further Mandates
The President to draw this to the attention of the HEA, to request all delegates at Comhdháil
and SUT (Students’ Union Training) to send off drafted emails (draft prepared by the President) to the
relevant ministers (list prepared by the President) demanding that a TU borrowing framework
is expedited, given the implications on students across the island of Ireland, to publish an open letter
to the relevant Ministers demanding the same, and all other actions requested at National Council
(with appropriate majority of votes) deemed necessary to achieve this parity of funding for TU’s.”