The New Motions Proposed for Comhdháil 2024 are published below.
Academic Affairs Motions
2024 AA 1 Rethinking Assessment ***
Proposed by: Academic Affairs Working Group
Comhdháil notes:
Traditional means of assessment are not always fit for purpose or reflective of the challenges that will be posed to students post-graduation in the working environment.
Comhdháil further notes:
Stress, burnout, and other mental health concerns are readily linked to the continuous use of traditional forms of assessment, particularly where the outcome does not match the effort needed.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
USI to support assessment reform initiatives throughout the sector, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for Postgraduate Affairs to review mainstream assessment modes and advocate for the repurposing of assessment modes to ensure inter-sectional assessment with a focus on the constant adaptability of such modes to be reflective of the challenges of the modern day and the needs of students.
Comhdháil further mandates
The Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Postgraduate to emphasize, through their advocacy for assessment reform, the need for due consideration of the need of all students for accessible assessment.
2024 AA 2 Hidden Costs Support and Transparency **
Proposed by Academic Affairs Working Group
Comhdháil notes:
That many students are required to pay additional costs, on top of the student contribution/tuition fee. This includes but is not limited to materials charges, field trips, uniform costs, software costs, and medical costs. These can range from 10s to 1000s of euros/pounds.
Comhdháil further notes:
In many cases, there is limited, or no information provided to students in advance of enrolment on the additional costs that they will be required to pay throughout the course of their studies, especially when specific paid software is used for teaching, but not made available for students. These costs are also often not covered by grants made available to students, such as SUSI.
Comhdháil further notes:
That these materials may sometimes be made available on devices owned by the HEI (for example, in computer labs), but not for use on students’ personal devices.
Comhdháil believes:
That this is not an acceptable solution, especially for students who may have long commutes, who must work part time, or students with disabilities. These spaces are often also being used close to capacity, meaning that students have a very limited window in which to use them outside of class hours.
Comhdháil further believes:
Hidden additional costs serve as a further reminder of the marketized Higher Education system that students across the island are being subjected to, and may further inhibit students from progressing in their education particularly where these costs are mandatory.
Comhdháil mandates:
The USI President and Vice President for Academic Affairs engage with key stakeholders, including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to require institutions to provide full transparency of all additional costs within their institutions to prospective students.
Comhdháil further mandates:
The USI President and Vice President for Academic Affairs engage with key stakeholders, including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to provide adequate funding to institutions so that these costs do not need to be levied on students.
Comhdháil further mandates:
The USI Coiste Gnó to support MOs in raising awareness of additional course costs within their colleges, and in lobbying for the reduction or abolishment of all additional costs. The USI Coiste Gnó to support NUS-USI members in ensuring that institutions in the North continue to comply with CMA requirements around the publication of additional costs.
Comhdháil Repeals: 2021 AA 1: Hidden Course Costs
2024 AA 3 Student Survey Boycott and Reform **
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Comhdháil notes:
That Studentsurvey.ie is an organisation and survey that gathers data on students’ experiences of higher education across a number of areas. Having operated for 6 years, the survey utilises connections with HEI faculty and students’ unions in order to carry out and promote the survey on a yearly basis, creating a set of recommendations for each institution that are then put forward to senior staff in institutions.
Comhdháil further notes:
That the survey more recently has been momentarily stopped due to a level of pushback from Students’ Unions such as TCDSU and MSU, which both passed student survey boycott motions.
Comhdháil believes:
That student survey is a corporatised organisation that doesn’t actively contribute to en-mass positive reform and change in HEIs that benefits the students, many USI MOs have put in countless hours of work in promoting the survey in return for increasingly low amounts of actual results and action from their institutions. The equivalent, the National Student Survey is boycotted in the U.K. by the NUS for similar reasons.
Comhdháil mandates:
That USI boycott student survey until which point that the survey takes a student-centric, holistic and structured approach to their process, acknowledging the influencing factors in the higher education landscape such as lack of funding, precarious tutor and teaching contracts, student exploitation, and treating students not as consumers but as the most integral part of higher education, as community members and as partners in their work.
Comhdháil further mandates:
That the VP Academic Affairs ensures that reforms to StudentSurvey.ie as an organisation and as a survey should be done with comprehensive consultation with member organisations and USI and that structurally, the survey’s reform moves to prevent inordinate exploitation of students’ union resources in StudentSurvey processes, to implement systems that puts pressure/must reform, and that the survey focuses not on ‘the amount of time and effort that students put into meaningful and purposeful educational activities, and the extent to which institutions provide such opportunities and encourage students to engage with them’ (StudentSurvey.ie website) and instead on teaching quality, student welfare, quality assurance processes, staff working conditions, socio-economic impacts of access on education and student wellbeing.
Comhdháil further mandates:
That the VP Academic Affairs lobbies StudentSurvey,ie to include as part of their system, if it is reformed and relaunched in the future, a need for on-going active commitments from HEIs in regards to implementation of survey recommendations, comprehensive and structured processes in the consideration of survey results and mandatory resource and promotion allocation from participating institutions.
2024 AA 4 North South Mobility Education Entry for Students *
Proposed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Comhdháil Notes:
Students both north and south lack information on how to pursue further and higher education outside of their jurisdictions. Students in the Republic of Ireland are unfamiliar with UCAS and writing personal statements, and students in the North find the CAO challenging.
Comhdháil Regrets:
There is a lack of accessible information available to students on how to study over the border.
Comhdháil Further Regrets:
The difficulties of grade requirements faced by students in the north when applying for the CAO with their A levels which act as a barrier to students’ mobility.
Comhdháil Mandates:
The Vice President of Academic Affairs with the help of the Coiste Gnó to liaise with NUS-USI, the Irish Second-level Students’ Union (ISSU) and the Secondary Students’ Union of North Ireland (SSUNI) to push for better information and resources to allow for north-south mobility for all students. USI will also reach out to Universities Ireland on this.
2024 AA 5 Apprenticeship Representation in Ireland *
Proposed by Vice President for Academic Affairs
Comhdháil Recognises:
The Department of Further, Higher, Education Science, Innovation & Research has created more apprenticeships across many fields throughout the country.
Comhdháil Welcomes:
Apprenticeships as a means of education, allowing for more people to become learners in a way that best supports them.
Comhdháil Notes:
Currently apprentices have no representative body to protect and advocate for better conditions and further their rights as learners. Currently, there is no democratically elected voice for apprentices in the South of Ireland, this is fulfilled in the North of Ireland by the National Society of Apprentices (NSoA)
Comhdháil Mandates:
The VP for Academic Affairs with the in assistance of the Coiste Gnó to pursue an appropriate representative structure for apprentices. The VP for Academic Affairs will liaise with apprentices and appropriate bodies. They will also ensure democracy is at the core of this structure.
2024 AA 6 State Supports for Students Fleeing Conflict Zones *
Proposed by the Vice-President for Campaigns
Comhdháil Notes
That in most cases where students fleeing conflict zones arrive in Ireland and subsequently wish to continue their education, such cases are dealt with on a case-to-case basis in the absence of a national policy to inform the approach taken when such cases arise.
Comhdháil further notes
That specific conflicts where EU policy informs the approach taken by third-level education actors in respect of students displaced from those conflicts, there remains a need for a national policy for such cases, and current schemes for the enrolment of students in such cases do not cater to those with dual-citizenship that have not lived in EU/EEA States long enough to satisfy the residency requirement associated with the ‘free-fees initiative’ but have been forced to return to Ireland as a result of conflict in their country of residence.
Comhdháil notes with concern
The increasing impact of global conflicts on education, often seeing higher education institutions being partially or completely destroyed
Comhdháil believes
That all students fleeing conflict zones that have been granted international protection in Ireland, or in the case of those holding a dual-citizenship, have returned to Ireland, must be supported by the State in continuing their education in Ireland.
Comhdháil further believes
That students in such situations often have gone through a traumatic experience leaving considerations like tuition fees, making available official documentation and finding student accommodation to be extremely burdensome to resolve.
Comhdháil commends
The various institutions, individuals and groups that have supported the enrolment of students in such situations in Irish HEIs.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The VP Academic Affairs and the VP Campaigns to lobby the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, the Irish University Association, the Technological Higher Education Association, and Universities Ireland to produce a policy for the supported enrollment of students that have fled conflict zones and sought refuge in Ireland whether they wish to commence or continue third-level education in Ireland.
Comhdháil further mandates
The VP Academic Affairs and the VP Campaigns to highlight the need for such policy to mitigate issues including but not limited to: fee status, student supports, financial support, measures to ease integration of the students into HEIs and the inability of students to produce official documentation from their home institutions.
2024 AA 7 NStEP Oversight and Engagement *
Proposed by Vice President for Academic Affairs
Comhdháil Notes: The National Student Engagement Programme [NStEP], which was officially launched in 2016 as a joint initiative between USI, the Higher Education Authority [HEA] and Quality and Qualifications Ireland [QQI], to embed student engagement practice through championing meaningful staff-student partnerships in Irish Higher Education Institutions. The work that has been undertaken so far through the NStEP programme including the roll-out of the class rep training programme, and the creation of National Projects, focused on specific areas within student engagement in Higher Education.
Comhdháil Believes: The National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP) is a valuable programme which assists Member Organisations greatly with the training of class representatives and can remove some pressure from SU officers.
Comhdháil Notes with Interest: USI assisted in spearheading NStEP’s foundation and implementation to ensure class representatives are trained in areas such as representation, governance and signposting.
Comhdháil Mandates: The VP for Academic Affairs to ensure a strong relationship with the NStEP Programme Manager and their team- this should include regular communication, updates and quarterly meetings. This will be to ensure the contents and materials that NStEP produces are student centric, accessible and encourage class representatives to take part in student democracy.
Comhdháil Further Mandates: The VP for Academic Affairs to ensure the continued funding of NStEP to benefit class representatives for years to come by keeping in regular contact with the HEA and QQI.
Repeal: 20 AA 08
2024 AA 8 Accreditation for Participation
Proposed by DCU Students’ Union
Comhdháil recognises:
The importance of student participation in extracurricular activities such as clubs & societies, Students’ Unions, volunteering and civic engagement during their time in college, and the benefits that engaging in such activity brings about in terms of the overall personal development of the student.
Comhdháil further recognises:
The continued promotion by Students’ Unions of students getting involved in these activities, and the associated advantages which can be conferred on students who have been active in these areas when seeking future employment.
Comhdháil notes:
The development of modules and recognition within programmes which exist in some Higher Education Institutions to accredit students for their involvement and participation in these activities, in order to facilitate, recognise and encourage their nonacademic as well as academic development whilst in college.
Comhdháil Believes:
That involvement in these activities presents benefits for students both inside and outside of formal teaching, and that this should be reflected in the formal awards conferred on students.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
The Vice-President for Academic Affairs to research best practice across Higher Education Institutions in this area, both nationally and internationally, with a view to developing USI policy on Accreditation for Participation which may be presented to the appropriate bodies in HEIs by Students’ Unions who wish to do so. This should include where participation in these activities can result in ECTS credits being awarded to students.
Comhdháil Repeals:
20 AA (NC) 2: Accreditation for Participation
2018 AA 4: Accreditation for Volunteering & Participation
Accounting & Finance Motions
2024 AF 1 USI Commercial Entities Engagement Strategy *
Proposed by DCU Students’ Union
Comhdháil Notes
External commercial entities such as but not limited to event agencies, promoters, marketing agencies and brands often look to use Students’ Unions and the Union of Students Ireland as ways to engage with new customers.
Comhdháil Further Notes
That engaging with such companies can provide a benefit to students and provide students with new opportunities.
Comhdháil Believes
That it is of utmost importance that there is a fair, transparent and clear procedure that aligns with the USI Constitution is accessible to all Member Organisations outlining the criteria of what external commercial entities USI engage with.
Comhdháil Further Believes
Engagement with commercial entities should, where applicable, provide USI with financial benefits directly to the organisation.
Comhdháil Mandates
The USI President develops a clear procedure on the selection and vetting of external commercial entities that USI will consider working with in the future. This procedure shall be presented to the next Comhairle Náisúinta for discussion, and sent to the next Comhdháil for approval.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
Annually the USI President develops and reviews a costing rate guide for external commercial entities to engage with USI.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
That USI only works with commercial entities whose values align with stances approved by Comhdháil and the values of the USI Constitution.
AMENDMENT
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Remove:
“Comhdháil Notes: External commercial entities such as but…
and replace with
“Comhdháil notes: External entities and companies such as but…”
Remove:
“Comhdháil Mandates: The USI President develops a clear procedure on the selection and vetting of external commercial entities that USI will consider working with in the future”
and replace with:
“Comhdháil Mandates: The USI President develops a clear procedure on the selection and vetting of external entities and organisations that USI will consider working with in the future”
Remove:
“That USI only works with commercial entities whose values align with stances approved by Comhdháil and the values of the USI Constitution…”
and replace with
“That USI only works with external entities and companies whose values align with stances approved by Comhdháil or Comhairle Náisúinta and the values of the USI Constitution…”
2024 AF 2 Mediation for MOs
Proposed by: Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe
Comhdháil Notes:
Mediation is a delicate and sometimes necessary step needed for MOs to carry out their responsibilities in a cohesive work environment.
Comhdháil also Notes:
This service is a privilege that not all MOs can afford, either due to cost or lack of resources.
Therefore, Comhdháil Mandates:
That the Coiste Gnó of USI will make themselves available to organise mediation for MOs that feel they would benefit from the service. The mediatory services will be requested by the MO through the Coiste Gnó member of their choosing and comfortability.
Citizenship Motions
2024 CZN 1 Extra-Curricular Activities Engagement *
Proposed by DCU Students’ Union
Comhdháil Notes
That engaging in extracurricular activities in leadership positions and/or attending events and activities run by Students’ Unions, Clubs and Societies and Volunteering organisations can provide students with an improved student experience at university.
Comhdháil Further Notes
That engaging in extracurricular activities can come with hidden costs for students, and sometimes these costs can be a deterrence for students to engage in activities outside the classroom.
Comhdháil Believes
That as an organisation we should be pushing to increase participation in student activities, and reduce any barriers to students engaging in activities.
Comhdháil Recognises
That the level of financial support given to students to engage in extracurricular activities varies in each Member Organisation of USI.
Comhdháil Mandates
That the USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship along with the USI Vice President for Welfare conduct a research activity on assessing what financial barriers are in place for students to engage, including but not limited to; Clubs and Societies activities, Union activities; and volunteering opportunities in each Institution.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
That the USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship along with the USI Vice President for Welfare using their findings conducts a report on their findings and suggestions on removing barriers for student engagement, and present their findings to the relevant semi-state and state bodies in the lead up to and for inclusion in Budget 2025.
Amendment
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Remove all of clause “Comhdháil Further Mandates:”
Replace with:
“Comhdháil Further Mandates:
That the USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship along with the USI Vice President for Welfare
using their findings conducts a report on their findings and suggestions on removing barriers for
student engagement, and present their findings to the Comhairle Náisiúnta after the report is finished and to the next Comhdháil after to be used for both local and national lobbying of HEIs, state and semi-state bodies”
2024 CZN 2 Reckonable Residency Reform *
Proposed by: Equality & Citizenship Working Group
Comhdháil Notes:
Students and researchers attending Irish HEIs who are citizens of nations outside the EEA face many obstacles to remaining in Ireland after programme completion.
Comhdháil Further Notes:
Most non-EEA citizens pursuing higher education in Ireland are forced to maintain Stamp 2 (student) visas for the duration of their programmes, which restrict many rights while residing in the State.
Comhdháil Notes with Concern:
Stamp 2 visas do not count towards reckonable residency, which is used to determine eligibility for Irish long-term residency and/or citizenship.
Comhdháil Mandates:
The VP for Equality & Citizenship and VP for Academic Affairs to lobby the Department for Justice for Stamp 2 visas to count toward reckonable residency for the purposes of legally remaining and contributing to Irish communities long-term.
2024 CZN 3 Election Campaigns *
Proposed by Dublin Region Working Group
Comhdháil notes
Local, European, and general elections are an integral part of lobbying for change and on issues that directly affect students.
Comhdháil also notes
The USI have an opportunity during these times to talk to parties and to ensure students are mentioned in every manifesto and program for government.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The VP for Campaigns, in conjunction with the USI President, to write a Student Manifesto to highlight USI’s key demands from political parties.
Comhdháil also mandates
The VP for Campaigns, in conjunction with the USI President, to write a Student Guide to Elections which will inform the general student body on the election relevant to student issues and interests.
Repeals 15 CZN 7: General Election Campaign & 09 NA 4
2024 CZN 4 BusConnects and the NTA *
Proposed by the Dublin Working Group
Comhdháil Notes
The rollout of the BusConnects by the NTA (National Transport Authority) is a welcome change in the way public transport is operated, offering increased 24hr services, and increased connectivity between campuses. BusConnects impacts most higher education institutions in Dublin, and may affect other cities in Ireland in the future.
Comhdháil Further Notes
There have been significant delays in the rollout of the redesigned routes, in particular of the E-Spine that would connect multiple campuses across Dublin. The delays of these routes, and the removal of previous routes as part of the phased rollout, has a serious impact on commuting students and their commutes to their HEI, as well as travel between campuses of some institutions.
Comhdháil Mandates
The USI Coiste Gnó to endeavour to obtain a place on the relevant decision-making bodies within the NTA.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The USI Coiste Gnó, in particular the regional officers, to lobby the NTA to involve the student perspective and voice on these rollouts and to make sure considerations are taken that no area is forgotten.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The Coiste Gnó to produce information on any new route introduced by the NTA that impact an MO campus to inform students of the changes and how it may affect students.
Comhdháil Also Mandates
The Coiste Gnó to report back at every second Comhairle Náisiúnta on updates surrounding public transport.
2024 CZN 5 Non-EEA Residency Permit Reform
Proposed by: Equality & Citizenship Working Group
Comhdháil Notes:
Students and researchers attending Irish HEIs who are citizens of nations outside the EEA face many obstacles to their legal status over the course of their programmes, particularly those of greater than one year in duration.
Comhdháil Further Notes:
Non-EEA USI members enrolled in multi-year programmes are required to attend annual interviews with An Garda Siochana to prove they are persisting through such programmes as originally intended, as well as provide proofs of residency, financing, and private insurance to varying extents.
Comhdháil Notes with Concern:
The cost to renew residency permits is €300 per annum, independent of the other financial burdens required per individual; immigration interviews are continually backlogged and difficult to obtain; and County Dublin allows for online permit renewals.
Comhdháil Mandates:
The VP for Equality & Citizenship, VP for Academic Affairs, and VP for Postgraduate Affairs to lobby the Government (such as the Department of Justice and any other relevant party) and advocate for:
1.) Online residency permit renewals available nationwide.
2.) Reduction of permit fees.
3.) Abolition of the annual renewal requirement for those enrolled in multi-year programmes.
Equality Motions
2024 EQ 1 Legislative Impoverishment of Carers and Persons With Disabilities ***
Submitted by BMW Working Group
Comhdháil notes:
€450 is the weekly wage needed for a high standard of living (Immigration Advice Service)
Comhdháil further notes:
Carers Allowance, Invalidity Pay and Disability Benefit are set well below this figure.
Comhdháil further notes:
Disability Benefit, Invalidity Pay and Carers Allowance come with strict limits on income, permission to acquire education and accessing employment.
Comhdháil further notes:
Ireland has the 5th lowest employment rate for disabled persons in the EU. The harsh impositions and inadequate provisions condemn disabled persons and carers to poverty.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
The VP for Equality and Citizenship to lobby the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to:
Raise Disability Benefit and Carers Allowance to match the cost of living
Automatically transfer students qualified for receiving Invalidity Pay to Disability Benefit
Abolish the harsh limits on income and working hours
2024 EQ 2 Transgender Healthcare (NI) ***
Proposed by: USI VP for Equality & Citizenship
Comhdháil Notes:
The main public health service for trans and gender diverse adults to access gender-affirming care in Northern Ireland is the Brackenburn Clinic. The service provides assessments, psychological supports and onward referrals, where appropriate, for hormone replacement therapy and surgery. The only way to be referred to the service is either via a GP or a mental health professional.
Comhdháil Notes with Concern:
Due to lack of funding, staffing issues, and a breakdown in the service, as of 2023 the waiting list currently has patients waiting up to 4-6 years for their initial appointment. The Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) had no patients being accepted to the service from 2018-2020, which has since resumed but now refuses new referrals due to the backlog of patients trying to avail of the service. Over the last few years, the NHS has been slowly becoming more privatised, which has led trans patients to turn to private healthcare and self-medicating (administering their hormone replacement therapy themselves). Despite GPs being allowed to provide bridging prescriptions for trans patients, a survey of users of private health provider, GenderGP, found that 80% of NHS GPs had refused, despite having no real grounds to do so.
Comhdháil Commends:
The work done by organisations such as Transgender NI and The Rainbow Project to highlight the current issues the face transgender healthcare and the community.
Comhdháil Mandates:
The VP for Equality & Citizenship and VP for Welfare to engage with and supporting the NUS-USI President to:
Invest in and reform local healthcare provision to:
- Eliminate waiting lists for mental healthcare.
- Ensure no disruption in care pathways when people turn 18 or move house and move across the UK.
- Update regulations in gender-affirming healthcare to give GPs and nurse prescribers the powers to prescribe hormones.
- Support and endorse trans organisations and activist groups in Northern Ireland.
- Lobby the Government and NHS to invest more funding to GIC’s in Northern Ireland.
- With the VP for Campaigns, to run a “Trans Healthcare Campaign” to all the MOs in Northern Ireland to highlight the issues facing the trans community regarding transgender healthcare.
2024 EQ 3 Transgender Healthcare (ROI) ***
Proposed by: Equality & Citizenship Working Group
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 provided by Transgender Europe (TGEU), a group funded by the EU, who campaigns for the ‘complete depathologisation of trans and gender-diverse identities’. The ranking itself was based on the following six factors:
- Type of trans healthcare and coverage available in the country.
- Requirement for a psychiatric diagnosis before hormonal treatment or surgery.
- Waiting time for first appointment with a trans healthcare professional.
- Groups excluded or made to wait longer to access trans-specific healthcare.
- Youngest age for puberty blockers.
- Youngest age for hormones.
Each member state could score up to two points for each of the six criteria. Out of a potential twelve points, Ireland received just one.
Comhairle Notes with Concern
The National Gender Service (NGS) recently reported that they are “seeing people referred between three and three and a half years ago”. However, this statement is fundamentally misleading given the exponential growth of wait lists; statistical analysis of data accessed through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request indicates that those added to the list now may be waiting over 11 years to be seen.
Waiting times of this length, as evidenced by the myriad of surveys available, are increasing the risk of self-harm and suicide amongst an incredibly vulnerable population. Despite these abhorrent wait times, the NGS continues to advise GP’s not to prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a life-saving intervention, to transgender and non-binary patients. This has, unsurprisingly, lead to increasing numbers of transgender people ‘self-medicating’ (taking HRT medications accessed through unregulated sources).
Comhairle Commends
There is significant work and advocacy being carried out by grassroots activist organizations in Ireland such as ‘Transgress the NGS’ and ‘Trans Harm Reduction’; the latter organization has pioneered the ‘GP Action Project’, organizes laboratory testing of HRT sources, provides injection supplies, provides a healthcare fund, and offers a peer support network.
Comhairle Mandates
USI to support and endorse organisations like ‘Transgress the NGS’, ‘Trans Harm Reduction’, ‘Trans & Intersex Pride Dublin’, ‘Trans Healthcare Action’ and ‘TENI’ i.e. publicise them and their events regularly on social media, encourage students to attend their events and direct actions, and ensure USI attendance (wherever possible) at these same events.
Comhairle further Mandates
USI to fully endorse and platform the recommendations of ‘Transgress the NGS’, ‘Trans Healthcare Action’, and ‘Trans Harm Reduction’ (e.g. in relation to GP’s prescribing HRT and blood tests to trans-identifying people), to platform their recommendations on the topic of Trans Harm Reduction, to fully denounce the NGS (National Gender Service), the HSE, and the 33rd Government of Ireland for its abject failure to adequately support Trans people, and to ultimately support the recommendations by TGEU & WPATH.
Comhairle further Mandates
The VP for Equality & Citizenship, in conjunction with the VP for Welfare, to:
Collate/Source a list of best-practice recommendations for college-run health services in line with the demands of Transgress the NGS (i.e. an informed consent model) that can be easily communicated to local health services via each local MO.
Work directly and regularly with local MO Officers to educate college-run health services on the life-saving benefits of prescribing HRT and blood tests, the risks of not treating those who self-medicate, and legal protections in place.
Roll out a campaign & ‘handbook’ / shareable document, detailing information on ‘Trans Harm Reduction’, methodology of such, and areas where this can be improved via activism (e.g. such as platforming the GP Action Project).
Endorse, platform and promote the ‘GP Action Project’, run by Trans Healthcare Action in order to build a network of Trans-Friendly GP’s
Lobby all necessary parties (including but not limited to: Government / Minister for Health, Minister for Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, HSE, NGS) to overhaul the current trans healthcare model (centralised, pathology-based) in favour of the legislative and healthcare recommendations provided in TGEU’s (Transgender Europe’s) ‘Guidelines to Human Rights-Based Trans-Specific Healthcare, 2019’ and WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Healthcare) Standards of Care Version 8.
In conjunction with the VP for Campaigns, develop a comprehensive escalation plan (to be presented at the second National Council of the academic year (24/25), aimed at achieving point (4), which must include one targeted direct action (e.g. at Pink Training 24/25), before March 2025.
References
https://transharmreduction.org/
https://nationalgenderserviceireland.com/waiting-times-2/
https://the-beacon.ie/2023/01/23/the-wait-to-talk-to-the-national-gender-service-hits-nine-years/
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25323/1/The_LGBTIreland_Report_-_Key_Findings.pdf
https://www.scottishtrans.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trans_mh_study.pdf
https://lgbt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/attachment_5bdd0cd5-16b6-4ab6-9ee6-a693b37fdbcf.pdf
https://tgeu.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/tgeu-trans-health-map-2022-en.pdf
https://gcn.ie/trans-demand-gender-affirming-healthcare/
https://nationalgenderserviceireland.com/waiting-times-3/
https://the-beacon.ie/2024/02/08/national-gender-service-waiting-list-surpasses-a-decade/
2024 EQ 4 Pink Training **
Proposed by: TU Dublin Students’ Union
Comhdháil Notes:
Pink Training is an annual event run by USI that brings together members of the LGBTQIA+ Community and allies to empower, explore and educate. Pink Training has played a critical role in establishing a safe space for student activism and change. Furthermore, Pink Training has paved the way for hundreds of delegates each year, to experience a place like no other in Ireland; a space where they can truly be themselves.
Comhdháil Applauds:
The response of USI’s Pink Training event to critical issues of time that required strong student voices to shift narratives of the LGBTQIA+ community. This encompassed the promotion of safe sex, tackling the rise in HIV cases, promoting anti-bullying measures in schools, elevating Trans rights and campaigning for legislative change. This work and impact of Pink training has been imperative for the queer movement in Ireland in campaigning for social justice and equality for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Comhdháil Recognises:
Pink Training is organised by the VP for Equality and Citizenship each year and is a significant undertaking for the Officer. There is also currently a document in existence, drafted annually by the outgoing VP for Equality and Citizenship, that explains how the incoming VP for Equality and Citizenship should run Pink Training. However, there is no formal procedure in place that mandates the VP for Equality & Citizenship on how to select speakers for the event. This may potentially cause issues such as a lack of diversity amongst speakers and/or topics, as well as conscious or unconscious bias during the selection process.
Comhdháil Mandates:
The VP for Equality And Citizenship and Coiste Gnó to continue to organise the annual USI Pink Training. This event should continue to include sessions that tackle nuanced LGBTQIA+ perspectives such as race, body positivity, disability, drug harm reduction, asexuality and other extended topics deemed relevant. The topics should be explored in a way that isn’t seen as ‘tokenistic’ or simply ‘101’ sessions.
Comhdháil further Mandates:
The VP for Equality and Citizenship and any other Coiste Gnó member involved in the organising of Pink Training to continue to produce an annual Event Planning Document after the training each year, within three months of the Training, and pass it over to the incoming VP for Equality and Citizenship each year.
Comhdháil further Mandates:
The VP for Equality & Citizenship to establish a formal procedure by which they select speakers for the annual Pink Training event. This procedure must include a standardised application process (i.e. whereby all potential speakers fill out a form requesting to deliver a talk(s) at the event), followed by a formal panel who review and select applicants from these applications. This panel must consist of the VP for Equality & Citizenship, the USI President, and three student-members that are voted for annually at National Council. Selected speakers shall be limited to a maximum of two different talks, in order to ensure a diversity of speakers.
This motion therefore repeals 2022 EQ 5: Pink Training
2024 EQ 5 Motion in Support of Sex Workers and Engagement with the National Women’s Council
Proposed by Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil Na Gaillimhe
Comhdháil notes
Sex work is defined as the sale of any sexual services, performances, or products for material compensation, including online sex work and pornography.
Comhdháil further notes
The phrase ‘decriminalization of sex work’ has been politically coopted by individuals, such as the National Women’s Council, who believe that the Nordic model is the only way to support sex workers. Under the Nordic model, sex buyers are criminalized while sex workers are decriminalized, however, additional working supports such as hiring security, accountants or drivers remains illegal. Worryingly, it is also illegal under the Nordic Model for two or more sex workers to live together, as under the Nordic Model this constitutes a brothel, and allows landlords to evict tenants should they discover that the tenant is engaging in sex work. Many individual sex workers and sex work organisations, such as Sex Workers Alliance Ireland, have gone on record to say that the Nordic model has been created under the false pretence that all sex work is abuse and always leads to sex trafficking and exploitation, without the model acknowledging that consensual sex work exists. They confirm however, that prohibitions, like the one of the Nordic model, and stigmatization are the biggest problems for sex workers, which do cause real harm. It was also reported on the 19/02/2024 that the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner agreed with sex-worker-led organisations that the decriminalisation of sex work will improve outcomes for sex workers. The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland undertook peer research of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act which brought the Nordic model to Ireland in 2017. Their most important findings are listed below:
This law has not prevented people from engaging in sex work.
It has negatively impacted safety measures making survival more perilous.
Instead of making workers safer it has made sex work much more dangerous and decreased faith and trust in Garda amongst workers. Crime against sex workers has increased significantly under this law.
This law has failed to reduce numbers of clients but instead it has worsened behaviour of clients toward sex workers.
Sex workers have lost bargaining power and are therefore seeing clients they might have previously refused to see and engaging in acts they might not have previously considered.
Existing supports for workers are severely lacking and tend to be focused on workers that are actively trying to exit sex work.
Comhdháil further notes
That a meeting was held with the National Women’s Council, SERP, Ruhuma and the National Immigration Council on the 23/1/2024 in the National Women’s Council offices in Dublin. This was attended by USI Officers, VP Academic Affairs, VP Equality and Citizenship and VP Welfare, as well as officers from MO’s.
From this meeting, it was clear that the National Women’s Council pro-Nordic Model stance still holds strong, and can only be changed through passing a mandate at their Annual General Meeting in June.
Comhdháil mandates
The USI Coiste Gnó shall retain an anti-Nordic model policy and that the VP Welfare and VP Equality and Citizenship attempt to engage further with the National Women’s Council, through meetings, workshops and communications.
Comhdháil also mandates
That USI bring an anti-Nordic mandate to the National Women’s Council 2024 AGM. Should this motion fall USI Coiste Gnó will consider disaffiliating from the National Women’s Council, exiting before the next affiliation payment.
Gaeilge Motions
2024 GAE 1 Bunú Ról Oifigeach Gaeilge **
Grúpa Oibre na Gaeilge / Gaeilge Working Group
Luann an Chomhdháil: Go bhfuil sé de dhualgas ar an Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, agus go mbeadh an Ghaeilge níos lárnaí i saol na hOllscoile do gach mac léinn.
Comhdháil Notes: The responsibility of the Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge is to promote Irish, and that Irish will be more central in University life for students.
Tugann an Chomhdháil faoi deara freisin: Níl ach beirt Leas-Uachtarán le Gaeilge Lánaimseartha lasmuigh d’Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn; Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ó 2022 agus Aontas na Mac Léinn, Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath ó 2024. Léiríonn an bheirt seo go bhfuil suim ag mic léinn sa Ghaeilge.
Comhdháil Notes: There are only 2 other full-time Leas-Uachtarán’s don Ghaeilge outside of the Union of Students in Ireland; Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe from 2022 and Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union from 2024. These 2 show that there is an interest in Irish.
Mar sin, ordaíonn an Chomhdháil: Go bhfuil sé de dhualgas ar Leas-Uachtarán Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn oibriú le MOs nach bhfuil oifigigh Ghaeilge lán-aimseartha acu chun ról an Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge a bhunú, agus do na MOs nach bhfuil oifigeach Gaeilge ar bith acu Oifigeach Ghaeilge a bhunú.
Therefore, Comhdháil mandates: That it is the responsibility of the Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge to work with MOs that don’t have a full time Irish language officer to develop a full time role, and for MOs that don’t currently have an Irish Language Officer to develop an Irish Language Officer’s role.
2024 GAE 2 Providing Irish Language Lessons for Student Union Officers **
Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge
Comhdháil Notes:
The Irish language is an integral part of Ireland’s cultural heritage and national identity. Promoting the use and appreciation of the Irish language is essential for preserving and celebrating Ireland’s linguistic diversity.
Comhdháil further notes:
Student Union officers play a crucial role in representing and advocating for the interests of all students, including those who speak Irish as their first language or wish to engage with the union throughout Irish. Equipping student union officers with proficiency in the Irish language will enhance their ability to communicate effectively with Irish-speaking students, understand their needs, and promote inclusivity within the student body.
Comdháil believes:
Offering Irish language lessons to student union officers demonstrates a commitment to linguistic diversity, cultural awareness, and the promotion of bilingualism in higher education institutions.
Comhdháil Mandates:
The Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge to research into getting Irish Language Classes for members of the Coiste Gnó who wish to avail of them and to share information about language classes with Member Organisations.
Comhdháil further mandates:
The Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge to work with the Coiste Gnó and local Unions to research into getting Irish Language classes in their college/region for those who wish avail of them.
2024 GAE 3 Recognition of Irish Language Proficiency
Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge
Comhdháil notes:
Proficiency in the Irish language is an asset that enhances individuals’ employability, academic credentials, and professional opportunities.
Comhdháil further notes:
The Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) (European Certificate in Irish) and other equivalent qualifications serve as internationally recognized certifications of Irish language proficiency.
Comhdháil mandates:
The Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge to lobby the relevant authorities, such as the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to acknowledge and value the importance of Irish language proficiency by considering it as a valuable asset in academic evaluations through official certifications and qualifications, such as the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) (European Certificate in Irish) or equivalent qualifications and to invest in initiatives aimed at promoting the use of the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) (European Certificate in Irish) or equivalent qualifications within third-level assessments.
Comdháil further mandates:
The Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge to work with the NUS-USI President to look at the further expansion of Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) (European Certificate in Irish) exams to the NUS-USI region.
National Affairs Motions
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 2024-2027.
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.”
Union Organisation Motions
2024 UO 1 4 Day Work Week **
Proposed by the Dublin Regional Officer
Comhdháil Notes
4 day working weeks have been implemented around the word including Panasonic, Bolt and Kickstarter and has seen massive improvements to employees mental and physical health.
Comhdháil Also Notes
The benefits of a 4 day work week could improve productivity and moral in the student movement and could see less officer burnout.
Comhdháil Further Notes
As a national representation and a union we should lead the charge on this issue and show the benefits of a 4 day work week and how it would effect the work of the national student movement.
Comhdháil Mandates
The USI President to formulate a feasibility report on the benefits of a 4 day work week and how it could be implemented for the Coiste Gnó at the December Comhairle Náisiúnta 2024.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
If the report is approved and has a positive reaction, and would show tangible results without effecting the work of the Coiste Gnó on a weekly basis, the 4 day work week shall be implemented on a trial basis beginning January 2025 leading up to Comhdháil 2025.
Comhdháil Also Mandates
The president to present a policy paper on the topic of a 4 day work week and how the trial went at Comhdháil 2025. If approved the USI shall adopt a 4 day work week permanently from July 2025.
2024 UO 2 USI Accountability and MO Satisfaction **
Maynooth Students’ Union
Comhdháil notes:
That accountability functions should be at the core of the work done by a Union, and that the opportunity for member organizations to hold officers accountable should extend beyond officer reports, which realistically serve solely as an overview of past work, to include more comprehensive reporting and questioning functions and include on-going feedback processes.
Comhdháil believes:
That USI should strive to question where there are areas for improvement and whether the Union is providing adequate representation, support and resources for member organisations and that MOs, alongside their members, are satisfied with the efforts of USI.
Comhdháil acknowledges:
Consistent Union accountability and high MO satisfaction can be difficult to maintain with different MO officers and different Coiste Gnó officers coming into office each year and consistent changes in campaigns, work and organizational culture. Despite this, USI should strive for a level of consistency in the quality of its work.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
The USI President ensures an external review of USI’s accountability processes is carried out, this review should focus on whether or not the accountability structures of USI are comprehensive enough, whether they are adequate in ensuring that the USI Coiste Gnó’s is held to account on their work, and that there is an appropriate level of active participation in accountability processes from MO officers.
Comhdháil further mandates:
That the USI President holds a quarterly (twice per term of office) satisfaction consultation sitting of the Presidents’ Working Group that would allow the Presidents of member organisations to give feedback on and highlight areas for improvement on the Coiste Gnó’s projects, campaigns, and upcoming plans. Additionally, member organization Presidents can offer insights into their Union’s satisfaction levels concerning various aspects of the Union’s work, and express preferences regarding what should be prioritised in the Union’s future work.
Comhdháil further mandates:
That in conjunction, the Coiste Gnó create and disseminate an anonymized satisfaction and accountability survey (at the start of the academic year and the beginning of the new calendar year) to officers and student representatives from MOs, allowing them to give feedback across different areas of USI operations. This should give a broader idea of members’ perspectives and views that can give context to USI’s work going forward and develop the accountability function to go beyond work that has been done so far and look at what should be reformed, prioritized and focused on in the future.
Both the results of the survey and feedback from the consultation sitting should be consolidated and drawn up into summary reports that should be completed and presented to Comhairle Náisiúnta no later than the first Comhairle Náisiúnta in each academic term. The content of these reports should inform the Coiste Gnó’s on-going work and decisions for a given quarter.
2024 UO 3 Grassroots Communication and Direct Action ***
Proposed by the VP for Campaigns
Comhdháil commends
The invaluable work of grassroots-level organizing facilitated by various unions in Ireland and internationally to build strategic and strong campaigns.
Comhdháil further notes
That grassroots organizing within the context of the student movement refers to a bottom-up approach to mobilization and advocacy, where the initiative for change originates from individual students or small groups rather than being imposed by top-down structures such as university administrations or external political organizations.
Comhdháil believes
That this approach to organizing has the input of students at the center of it, provides an opportunity for students to be involved in the planning stages of campaigning, and is characterized by its flexibility and ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The VP for Campaigns, where practicable, facilitate town hall-style meetings, activist training, organizers’ assemblies and establish networks with students who wish to contribute to the organizing of the union on a certain issue.
Comhdháil further mandates
The VP for Campaigns to work with existing and up-and-coming grassroots groups such as Students4Change, BDS branches in HEIs, community action unions, and renters’ unions to support their work and mobilize students for their initiatives where in alignment with USI policy.
2024 UO 4 VP Regional Bonding trips *
Proposed by USI President
Comhdháil notes,
The removal of the Regional bonding days in the Constitution.
Comhdháil believes
Regional Bonding trips are a vital part of the networking system within USI and should still be implemented.
Comhdháil Mandates,
The Regional VPs to organize a bonding trip for the MO’s in their specific region once a year before the commencement of the academic year where possible.
2024 UO 5 USI Service Provision *
Proposed by USI President
Comhdháil notes,
USI has access to all affiliated MO’s throughout the country and can be utilized as an access point for national businesses across the country. This service could be provided to give students of affiliated colleges throughout the country potential deals, access to services they may not have known about otherwise.
Comhdháil Mandates
Coiste Gnó to look at specific partnerships and affiliations that can support local MO’s.
Amendment
Proposed by the USI President
Replace all clauses as below
Comhdháil notes,
USI has access to all affiliated MO’s throughout the country and USI can enable MO’s to avail of services that businesses across the country provide. This service could be provided to give students at affiliated colleges throughout the country potential deals, access to services they may not have known about otherwise.
Comhdháil Mandates
The Coiste Gnó to:
- Identify companies and organisations that align with the values of USI
- Establish strategic partnerships and affiliations with these companies to provide exclusive benefits, discounts, and resources to member organizations.
- Ensure transparency and accountability in all company affiliations, with clear guidelines in place to safeguard the interests of member organizations and uphold ethical standards.
- Promotion and Communication:
- Develop a comprehensive communication strategy to promote the newly expanded service provisions and company affiliations to member organizations.
- Utilize various channels, including social media, newsletters, and direct communication, to raise awareness and encourage member organizations to take advantage of these offerings.
- Evaluation and Feedback:
- Implement regular evaluations to assess the effectiveness and impact of the expanded service provisions and company affiliations.
- Solicit feedback from member organizations to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to better meet their needs.
2024 UO 6 Research and Data Collection Training at USI provided Students’ Union Training *
Proposed by the Vice President for Campaigns
Comhdháil recognizes
The value brought by modern research tools that could be incorporated into the campaigning and lobbying efforts of student representatives.
Comhdháil notes
That data collection is a skill that assists building strategic and targeted campaigns, and that there is a multitude of mechanism for collecting data to supplement campaigning efforts.
Comhdháil further notes
That modern democratic tools for data collection such as Freedom of Information requests and other means of requesting information are governed by laws and rules that require technical knowledge to be effectively used.
Comhdháil recognizes
The legal and ethical considerations that must be considered when conducting primary research including surveys, questionnaires, and other means of collecting direct accounts from participants.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The President to ensure the provision of a session during Students’ Union Training, organized annually by USI, that covers direct data collection methodologies (e.g. FOI Requests) , for the purposes of campaigning and lobbying.
2024 UO 7 USI Website Review and Reform
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Comhdháil notes:
That the USI website currently has an unfriendly and inaccessible user interface, layout and design and isn’t mobile responsive. Containing a multitude of dead links, outdated information and articles and issues across different areas.
Comhdháil believes:
That communications and engagement systems are incredibly important in the work of USI, and that a website serves as a central location for members or people interested in the Union to go looking for necessary information, resources and reports.
Comhdháil acknowledges:
That there are many important things USI does, and a system such as the website might not traditionally be prioritized among other areas and aspects of the Union’s work – but despite this, the fact the website’s design, functionality and content actively impedes users engagement with USI as an organisation and stops them from accessing critical information or services is to the severe detriment of USIs functions across different areas.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
The USI President ensures the consistent review and update of the USI website’s content, usability and interface is carried out quarterly. Review and updates should occur consistently across a given year, and a reporting feature independent of the site should be created and disseminated to member organisations to report issues and outdated aspects of the website.
Amendment
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
To end of motion add:
Comhdháil Repeals:
UO 18 (NC) USI Accountability
Welfare Motions
2024 WEL 1 Mandate on the provision and distribution of menstrual products. ***
Proposed by VP Welfare and Equality, CMLOnG
Comhdháil notes with concern
A person who has a period will on average have 507 periods throughout their lifetime and will spend an average of €8100 in a lifetime on menstrual products.
Comhdháil notes with concern
Students’ Unions have quite often borne the financial burden of buying menstrual products for students and distributing these, and that this financial burden disproportionately affects smaller Unions with lesser budgets.
Comhdháil also notes with concern
New menstrual products such as menstrual cups and period underwear are still taxed at a higher rate of 23%, making them less affordable. Period poverty disproportionately affects student groups. The National Strategy for Women and Girls has identified students as an at-risk group of period poverty.
Comhdháil believes
That these products should be provided free of charge as a necessary provision of healthcare for anyone who needs them, and should be widely available across campuses, nationwide.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The Vice President for Welfare and Vice President for Equality and Citizenship to campaign the governments, HSE and NHS for free menstrual products to be provided nationally, North and South of the border.
Comhdháil also mandates
The Vice President for Welfare and Vice President for Equality to collaborate with period product disrupters and key stakeholders to create a streamlined process in which Student Unions can avail of menstrual products at a substantially reduced charge, with focus on supporting smaller unions and unions who do not have a free menstrual product scheme in place yet, but to continue to lobby for products to be available for no charge at all, similar to the free national contraception scheme. The provision of these products should encompass a wide variety of choice.
2024 WEL 2 Student Mental Health Funding Policy ***
Proposed by Vice President for Welfare
Comhdháil Notes
The important role campus counselling services play in the lives of students. On-campus counselling services do trojan work, often without adequate resources.
Comhdháil Believes
That USI has an important role to play in lobbying for additional resources for campus counselling services. There is a need for USI to have a policy regarding the funding of student mental health services so that we can lobby politicians and speak on campus counselling funding in the media. PCHEI, the representative body of Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland has provided invaluable information and support in informing USI’s student mental health funding policy.
Comhdháil Mandates
The adoption of the USI Student Mental Health Funding Policy, and that this policy be reviewed by the Vice President for Welfare each year.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The USI Vice President for Welfare to continue to work with PCHEI in the area of student mental health and collaborate on areas of common interest.
2024 WEL 3 Inclusivity of Free Contraceptive Services in Third Level Institutions ***
Proposed by DCU Students’ Union
Comhdháil Notes
That the HSE Free contraception service, available for people aged 17 to 31 years, is a massive benefit to students across the Republic of Ireland. This can be of extra benefit to students when these services are offered within their third level institutions health centres. However, the structure of third level institutions’ health centres greatly differ from each other. This means that health centres that privately hire in their medical staff from external agencies cannot access the HSE free contraceptive services scheme, which greatly disadvantages the students in these particular third level institutions.
Comhdháil Believes
That all HEIs should have equal access to engage with this scheme. Regardless of health and wellbeing frameworks within the individual HEIs students should be able to access national schemes within their higher education setting.
Comhdháil Mandates
The USI VP Welfare to conduct a report on access to the free contraceptive scheme within each HEI and brings the results of this to the attention of the HEA, HSE and government officials when engaging in discussions around sexual health in HEIs.
2024 WEL 4 SUSI Grant Reform 2024 **
Proposed by Vice President for Welfare
Comhdháil Notes
Equity of access to higher education is a core component of USI’s work. The USI SUSI policy 2021-2024 has been used to inform our lobbying, particularly our pre-budget submission. However, this policy needs to be updated.
Comhdháil Proposes
The adoption of the USI SUSI Grant Reform Policy 2024. This is an update to our 2021-2024 policy. Policy on thresholds and rates has been clarified. Policy on residence, estrangement, reckonable income, document translation, dependent children and more have been expanded upon. Any outdated policy has been removed.
Comhdháil Further Notes
This policy is not exhaustive and does not preclude additional policies or mandates regarding SUSI from being adopted by Comhdháil/National Council. Of note, there is specific policy coming forward regarding postgraduate SUSI grants as per 2023 WEL 4: Reforming SUSI: Eligibility Criteria for Postgraduates. Out of a desire to avoid policy duplication, postgraduate SUSI grants are not covered within this paper’s scope.
Comhdháil Mandates
The adoption of the USI SUSI Grant Reform Policy 2024.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The Vice President for Welfare and the Vice President for Academic Affairs to run a public consultation with students to update USI’s SUSI policy each year. This can be via a town hall event, survey, social media, working groups and/or National Council. Based on the consultation, the Vice President for Welfare and the Vice President for Academic Affairs should update USI’s SUSI policy.
2024 WEL 5 Men’s Health: Movember *
Proposed by Vice President for Welfare
Comhdháil Notes
That many male students experience specific health challenges, which deserve tailored campaigns and advocacy (Men’s Health in Numbers, MHFI). These include but are not limited to late presentation to health services, higher mortality rates, and a higher risk for developing preventable diseases. The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) is a charitable all-Ireland organisation which works to enhance the health and well-being of men and boys. Our engagement in this forum to date has ensured we are up to date on developments that benefit male students.
Comhdháil Further Notes
Many students’ unions across Ireland participate in the annual “Movember” campaign to raise money for charity and promote men’s health. In 2023 USI became involved in the “Movember” campaign and provided support to member organisations for their own “Movember” campaigns, particularly through our “OpenUp” mental health campaign. This has been a positive, fun and engaging way to promote male students’ health, including mental health.
Comhdháil Mandates
For the USI Vice President for Welfare to continue engagement with the Men’s Health Forum Ireland.
Comhdháil Also Mandates
That the USI Coiste Gnó supports the international “Movember” campaign with a focus on both physical and mental health. Specifically, that the Vice President for Welfare and Vice President for Campaigns co-ordinate “Movember” resources with interested member organisations. The required resources are at the discretion of officers and Welfare Working group but could include social media graphics, fake moustaches, cardboard cutouts, competition facilitation, etc. USI should host a planning meeting by early October to establish interest and get sign-ups.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The VP Dublin, the VP South and the VP BMW to reach out to Students’ Unions in their region to provide support for “Movember” campaigns where this is wanted.
2024 WEL 6 The USI X Student Sport Ireland
Proposed by TUS SU
Comhdháil Notes:
The USI are the largest representative body for students in Ireland. College in Ireland is much more than just the academic, Clubs & Socs are a huge part of the college experience. Where the USI has made great strides in representing students involved in societies the same cannot be said for that of clubs.
Comhdháil further notes:
That the governing body for sport in third-level education on the island of Ireland is Student Sport Ireland. SSI works alongside the national sporting bodies as well as international bodies to help provide students with the best access to sports as possible.
Comhdháil Believes:
That the USI should work alongside SSI to promote their activities to all students.
Comhdháil Therefore Mandates:
That the VP Welfare develop a relationship and work alongside SSI to give ample student representation for all students on the island of Ireland
Repeal: (2021 UO NC7: Student Sport Ireland)
2024 WEL 7 Problem gambling in students
Proposed by TUS SU
Comhdháil notes:
Ireland is currently in the grips of an unrecognized epidemic, 1 in 10 third-level students in Ireland have a gambling problem and The Irish Institute of Public Health found that adolescent gambling in Ireland is 2-3 times greater than that of adults.
Comhdháil further notes:
Gambling addiction has grown in recent years largely due to the increase in online betting apps, Half of people who bet through their smartphones become problem gamblers, according to a recent University of Galway study. According to the ESRI, 46% of all gambling industry revenue in Ireland comes from people who gamble harmfully or problematically.
Comhdháil notes with regret:
That there has been little to no work or awareness brought to this issue by the Union of Students in Ireland.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
For the VP Welfare & VP Campaigns to run a campaign and work with relevant organizations to highlight the negative impact of gambling and to highlight supports and resources available to those who suffer from gambling addictions through the campaign.
Comhdháil also Mandates:
The regional officers, VP Dublin, VP South, VP BMW to highlight supports around the time of student race days to Member Organizations by offering them information and resources to help students with gambling addictions.
Comhdháil Further Mandates:
The VP Welfare with the help of VP Campaigns to lobby the government to restrict the use of online gambling apps and reduce the risk of problem gambling in students. The VP Welfare & VP Campaigns at their discretion may liaise with similar organizations to assist in these lobby efforts.
2024 WEL 8 Need for increased supports in HEIs for students who require additional supports (Content Warning)
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Comhdháil recognises with concern:
A worrying trend exists where diverse backgrounds are targeted solely for recruitment, with promises of tailored support that often vanish once enrolled at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This leads to concerning dropout rates.
Comhdháil expresses with disappointment:
Students facing complex needs, including trauma, experience widespread neglect within HEIs. Examples include denial of counselling access due to perceived complexity.
Comhdháil emphasises:
Urgent action is needed for comprehensive support encompassing childcare, bereavement, disability, mental health, financial hardship, and more within HEIs. Student services must address both academic and personal challenges, with awareness and guidance extended to all.
Comhdháil acknowledges:
Personal challenges like childcare, finances, trauma, and other complex issues significantly impact academic performance, creating undue pressure for vulnerable students.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
The Vice President Welfare is tasked with collaborating with Member Organisations (MOs) to identify and report pressing student concerns across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including personal challenges such as childcare, finances, trauma, and more. The information and data gathered should be formatted into a report that can be utilised both by USI for national lobbying and by USI member organisations for local and institutional lobbying in this area.
Comhdháil further mandates:
The Vice President Welfare develop a comprehensive resource pack offering information on various personal challenges faced by students, including, but not limited to, recognising and managing stress, anxiety, and depression; identifying and dealing with unhealthy relationships; seeking support for mental health concerns; navigating financial difficulties and accessing available resources; managing childcare responsibilities and balancing studies.
2024 WEL 9 Anti-Smoking and Anti-Vaping Policy
Proposed by VP BMW
Comhdháil Notes:
The widespread knowledge of the harms of smoking.
Comhdháil further notes:
While the long-term effects of vaping are not yet known, in the short-term vaping causes inflammation or irritation in the lungs. This is linked to scarring and narrowing of air vessels (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). Additionally, a 2019/20 outbreak of EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury) killed at least 68 and hospitalised thousands (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Comhdháil further notes:
Circa 1 in 5 people under 18 are currently vaping (HSE, 2022). The bright colouring and variety of flavours are particularly marketable to young people.
Comhdháil further notes:
The environmental damage caused by disposable vapes, including lithium entering water tables. Furthermore, there is no standard for the ethical sourcing of lithium.
Comhdháil Therefore Mandates:
The VP for Welfare to lobby the HSE and other relevant government parties to maintain their anti-smoking campaigns and to incorporate information on the dangers of vaping.
Comhdháil Further Mandates:
The VP for Welfare to lobby the Minister for Health and the HSE to ensure vapes are in unbranded packaging with health warning, as cigarettes are already.
Comhdháil Further Mandates:
The VP for Equality and Citizenship to lobby the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications for greater recycling facilities for disposable vapes and an accompanying information campaign on the dangers of improper vape disposal.
Constitutional Amendments
2024 CA 1 Vice-President for Postgraduate Affairs
TUS Students’ Union
Comhdháil replaces Article 5.12.1
‘5.12.1 The Vice President for Postgraduate Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the VP/Postgraduate) shall have responsibility, in a part-time capacity on the Union’s Executive Team, for the Union’s work on policy and engagement with postgraduate students.’
With
‘5.12.1 The Vice President for Postgraduate Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the VP/Postgraduate) shall have responsibility for the Union’s work on policy and engagement with postgraduate students.’
Comhdháil replaces Article 5.12.2
‘5.12.2 The VP/Postgraduate shall assist the VP/Campaigns with campaigns in relation to postgraduate issues.’
With
‘5.12.2 The VP/Postgraduate shall assist all other Vice Presidents in relation to postgraduate affairs.’
Comhdháil inserts Article 5.12.4
‘5.12.4 The VP/Postgraduate shall also be responsible for supporting Member Organisations regarding postgraduate affairs within their own institutions and shall produce research and develop support structures, as required by the Member Organisations.’
Comhdháil replaces Article 5.14.3
‘5.14.3 Members of the Executive Team (except for the VP/Postgraduate) shall have their salary matched to a grade in the Irish Civil Service, to be decided upon by Governance Committee. The starting salary of all officers (except for the VP/Postgraduate) shall be matched to the same level except for the President which shall be one grade higher.’
With
‘5.14.3 Members of the Executive Team shall have their salary matched to a grade in the Irish Civil Service, to be decided upon by Governance Committee. The starting salary of all officers shall be matched to the same level except for the President which shall be one grade higher.’
2024 CA 2 Constitutional Amendment: Removal Of Regional Vice Presidents
Proposed by: TU Dublin Students’ Union
Delete 5.16, “The Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region”
Delete 5.17, “The Vice President for the Southern Region”
Delete 5.18, “The Vice President for the Dublin Region”
Delete 5.8, “The Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region” and all its subsections.
Delete 5.9, “The Vice President for the Southern Region” and all its subsections.
Delete 5.10, “The Vice President for the Dublin Region” and all its subsections.
7.1.3 add;
“In the case of the regional committees, the President shall nominate a member of the Executive Team or a member of Comhairle Náisiúnta to serve as chair during the period of office.”
Further, in the event that this motion were to be carried-
Delete all references to the elections of these positions.
2024 CA 3 Merging The VP for Welfare and The VP for Equality and Citizenship
Proposed by: TU Dublin Students’ Union
Delete 5.5, “The Vice President for Welfare”.
Change 5.7, “The Vice President for Equality and Citizenship” to “The Vice President for Welfare, Equality and Citizenship”
Change 5.7.1, “The Vice President for Equality and Citizenship (hereinafter referred as to as VP/Equality) shall have responsibility for implementation and development of all Union policy in relation to issues of discrimination on the grounds specified in S.75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the grounds of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2004.” to “The Vice President for Welfare, Equality and Citizenship (hereinafter referred as to as VP/WEC) shall have responsibility for implementation and development of Union’s welfare policy and all Union policy in relation to issues of discrimination on the grounds specified in S.75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the grounds of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2004.”
Change 5.7.2, “The VP/Equality shall assist the VP/Campaigns in relation to campaigns for the defence and promotion of students’ rights in areas of equality and citizenship.” to “The VP/WEC shall assist the VP/Campaigns in relation to campaigns for the defence and promotion of students rights in areas of student welfare, equality and citizenship.”
Change 5.7.3, “The VP/Equality shall have overall responsibility for the running of Equality, Citizenship and LGBTQ training events such as Pink Training.” to “The VP/WEC shall have overall responsibility for the running of Welfare, Equality, Citizenship and LGBTQ training events such as Pink Training
Change 5.7.4, “The VP/Equality shall be the chairperson of the Equality & Citizenship Committee.” to “The VP/WEC shall be the chairperson of the Welfare, Equality & Citizenship Committee.”
Change 5.7.5, “The VP/Equality shall assist VP/Campaigns in relation to campaigns on, and shall be responsible for; running events and campaigns relating to citizenship in areas such as environmental and civic, social and political participation, with particular emphasis on voter registration; working with community and voluntary groups etc.” to “The VP/WEC shall assist VP/Campaigns in relation to campaigns on, and shall be responsible for; running events and campaigns relating to citizenship in areas such as environmental and civic, social and political participation, with particular emphasis on voter registration; working with community and voluntary groups etc.”
Add 5.7.6, “The VP/WEC also shall have special responsibility for the provisions of welfare publications and material.”
Further, in the event that this motion were to be carried-
Delete all references to “The Welfare Committee”
Delete all references to the election of “The VP for Welfare”
Change “The VP for Equality & Citizenship” to “The VP for Welfare, Equality & Citizenship” where “The VP for Equality & Citizenship” is mentioned.
Change “The VP/Equality” to “The VP/WEC” where “The VP/Equality” is mentioned.
Change “The Equality & Citizenship Committee” to “The Welfare, Equality & Citizenship Committee” where “The Equality & Citizenship Committee” is mentioned.
2024 CA 4 Changes to Regional VPs 1
Proposed by USI President
Replace 5.8 The Vice President for The Border, Midlands and Western Region with the following:
“5.8 The Vice President for Western Region:
5.8.1 The Vice President for the Western Region, (hereinafter referred to as the VP/Western) shall be responsible for Union development and liaison in their region. They shall also be responsible for the overall direction of the work of their region in conjunction with and reporting to the Coiste Gnó.
5.8.2 The VP/Western shall communicate the message of the Union to ordinary members, Member Organisations, external organisations and the general public through various means including, but not exclusively, social media, traditional media, meetings, conference events, updates to Councils, campaigns and training events. When conducting campus visits, a minimum of one week’s notice, where possible, is to be given to MOs by the VP/Western. The VP/BMW must conduct a minimum of one contact to each MO in between Comhairle Náisiúntas.
5.8.3 The VP/Western shall communicate regional and Member Organisation’s issues to the Coiste Gnó and support MOs with internal issues relating to but not limited to, team disputes, relationship with their HEI, and student engagement.
5.8.4 The VP/Western shall work with all Colleges in the Western Region to develop their Unions focusing on Unions who have been suspended or where a College does not have a functional Union, to assist the students of that College to establish one.
5.8.5 The VP/Western shall be responsible for the implementation of Union campaigns within their region and will assist MOs when requested in the run-up to or during campaigns, events, projects, initiatives, within reason when available to improve the student experience and promote the Union.
Support MOs in their region with matters relating to local government such as planning objections, engaging with city & county councils, transportation and applying for grants.
-Assist with Union Organisation ensuring best practise in union democracy and structure
To assist Member organisations with affiliations and partnership agreements
– Will be responsible for support and training of part time officers .
5.8.6 The VP/Western will chair the Western Regional Working Group.”
Replace 5.9 The Vice President for the Southern Region with the following:
“5.9 The Vice President for The Eastern Region:
5.9.1 The Vice President for the Eastern Region, (hereinafter referred to as the VP/Eastern) shall be responsible for Union development and liaison in their region. They shall also be responsible for the overall direction of the work of their region in conjunction with and reporting to the Coiste Gnó.
5.9.2 The VP/Eastern shall communicate the message of the Union to ordinary members, Member Organisations, external organisations and the general public through various means including, but not exclusively, social media, traditional media, meetings, conference events, updates to Councils, campaigns and training events. When conducting campus visits, a minimum of one week’s notice, where possible, is to be given to MOs by the VP/Eastern. The VP/BMW must conduct a minimum of one contact to each MO in between Comhairle Náisiúntas.
5.9.3 The VP/Eastern shall communicate regional and Member Organisation’s issues to the Coiste Gnó and support MOs with internal issues relating to but not limited to, team disputes, relationship with their HEI, and student engagement.
5.9.4 The VP/Eastern shall work with all Colleges in the Eastern Region to develop their Unions focusing on Unions who have been suspended or where a College does not have a functional Union, to assist the students of that College to establish one.
5.9.5 The VP/Eastern shall be responsible for the implementation of Union campaigns within their region and will assist MOs when requested in the run-up to or during campaigns, events, projects, initiatives, within reason when available to improve the student experience and promote the Union.
Support MOs in their region with matters relating to local government such as planning objections, engaging with city & county councils, transportation and applying for grants.
-Assist with Union Organisation ensuring best practise in union democracy and structure
To assist Member organisations with affiliations and partnership agreements
– Will be responsible for support and training of part time officers
5.9.6 The VP/Eastern will chair the Eastern Regional Working Group.”
Replace 5.10 The Vice President for the Dublin Region with the following:
“5.10 The Vice President for Student Engagement
5.10.1 The Vice President for Student Engagement, (hereinafter referred to as the VP/Engagement) shall be responsible for Union development and liaison with the VP/Western and the VP/Eastern on any support that they may need.
5.10.2 The VP/Engagement shall be responsible for in – person & on/off campus student engagement through various events/promotional campaigns.
5.10.3 The VP/Engagement shall be responsible for supporting MO’s in securing sponsorship and affiliations with local businesses.
5.10.4 The VP/Engagement shall work with the National Student Engagement Programme (NSTEP).
5.10.5 The VP/Engagement shall be responsible for training, development and empowering of student activism.
5.10.6 The VP/Engagement shall foster collaboration and partnerships between MO’s and other organizations to strengthen the collective voice of students and address common challenges related to student engagement, well-being and rights.
5.10.7 The VP/Engagement shall be responsible for student consultation and bringing meaningful feedback to the Coiste Gnó in ways to proper engage the student population.
5.10.8 The VP/Engagement will chair the Events, Marketing & Commercialization Working Group. “
Replace Schedule G4 with:
‘The Western Region’ is defined as the counties of which an institution resides in Kerry, Limerick, Cork, Tipperary, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Longford, Leitrim, Donegal.’
Replace Schedule G5 with
‘The Eastern Region’ is defined as the counties which an institution resides in of Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Laois, Kildare, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath, Westmeath, Louth, Offaly, Cavan, Monaghan.’
Replace Schedule G7 with
‘The region governed by the Trilateral agreement is defined as the Counties of Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.’
Delete G6 and renumber as appropriate.
If passed VP Eastern will replace VP South and VP Dublin and VP Western will replace VP BMW.
2024 CA 5 Changes to Regional VPs 2
Proposed by Presidents Working Group
Replace 5.8 The Vice President for The Border, Midlands and Western Region with the following:
“5.8 The Vice President for The Border, Midlands and Western Region:
5.8.1 The Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region, (hereinafter referred to as the VP/BMW) shall be responsible for Union development and liaison in their region. They shall also be responsible for the overall direction of the work of their region in conjunction with and reporting to the Coiste Gnó.
5.8.2 The VP/BMW shall communicate the message of the Union to ordinary members, Member Organisations, external organisations and the general public through various means including, but not exclusively, social media, traditional media, meetings, conference events, updates to Councils, campaigns and training events. When conducting campus visits, a minimum of one week’s notice, where possible, is to be given to MOs by the VP/BMW. The VP/BMW must conduct a minimum of one contact to each MO in between Comhairle Náisiúntas.
5.8.3 The VP/BMW shall communicate regional and Member Organisation’s issues to the Coiste Gnó and support MOs with internal issues relating to but not limited to, team disputes, relationship with their HEI, and student engagement.
5.8.4 The VP/BMW shall work with all Colleges in the Border, Midlands and Western Region to develop their Unions, focusing on Unions who have been suspended or where a College does not have a functional Union, to assist the students of that College to establish one.
5.8.5 The VP/BMW shall be responsible for:
The implementation of Union campaigns within their region,
Will assist MOs when requested in the run-up to or during campaigns, events, projects, initiatives, to enhance the student experience and promote the Union.
Support MOs in their region with matters relating to local government such as planning proposals, engaging with local organisations and city & county councils, transportation and applying for grants.
Assist with Union Organisation ensuring best practise in union democracy and structure
To assist Member organisations with affiliations and partnership agreements
Will be responsible for support and training of part time officers
5.8.6 The VP/BMW will chair the BMW Regional Working Group. ”
Replace 5.9 the Vice President for the Southern Region with the following:
“5.9 The Vice President for the Southern Region:
5.9.1 The Vice President for the Southern Region, (hereinafter referred to as the VP/Southern) shall be responsible for Union development and liaison in their region. They shall also be responsible for the overall direction of the work of their region in conjunction with and reporting to the Coiste Gnó.
5.9.2. The VP/Southern shall communicate the message of the Union to ordinary members, Member Organisations, external organisations and the general public through various means including, but not exclusively, social media, traditional media, meetings, conference events, campaigns and training events. When conducting campus visits, a minimum of one week’s notice, where possible, is to be given to MOs by the VP/Southern. The VP/Southern must conduct a minimum of one contact to each MO in between Comhairle Náisiúntas.
5.9.3 The VP/Southern shall communicate regional and Member Organisation’s issues to the Coiste Gnó and support MOs with internal issues relating to but not limited to, team disputes, relationship with their HEI, and student engagement.
5.9.4 The VP/Southern shall work with all Colleges in the Southern Region to develop their Unions focusing on Unions who have been suspended or where a College does not have a functional Union, to assist the students of that College to establish one.
5.9.5 The VP/Southern shall be responsible for:
The implementation of Union campaigns within their region,
Will assist MOs when requested in the run-up to or during campaigns, events, projects, initiatives, to improve the student experience and promote the Union.
Support MOs in their region with matters relating to local government such as planning objections, engaging with city & county councils, transportation and applying for grants.
Assist with Union Organisation ensuring best practise in union democracy and structure
To assist Member organisations with affiliations and partnership agreements
Will be responsible for support and training of part time officers
5.9.6 The VP/Southern will chair the Southern Regional Working Group.
5.9.7 VP/Southern to organise a regional bonding event throughout the year. “
Replace 5.10 The Vice President for the Dublin Region with the following:
“5.10 The Vice President for the Dublin Region
5.10.1 The Vice President for the Dublin Region, (hereinafter referred to as the VP/Dublin) shall be responsible for Union development and liaison in their region. They shall also be responsible for the overall direction of the work of their region in conjunction with and reporting to the Executive Team.Coiste Gnó.
5.10.2 The VP/Dublin shall communicate the message of the Union to ordinary members, Member Organisations, external organisations and the general public through various means including, but not exclusively, social media, traditional media, meetings, conference events, updates to Councils, campaigns and training events. When conducting campus visits, a minimum of one week’s notice, where possible, is to be given to MOs by the VP/Dublin. The VP/Dublin must conduct a minimum of one contact to each MO in between National CouncilsComhairle Náisiúntas.
5.10.3 The VP/Dublin shall communicate regional and Member Organisation’s issues to the Executive TeamCoiste Gnó and support MOs with internal issues relating to but not limited to, team disputes, relationship with their HEI, and student engagement.
5.10.4 The VP/ Dublin shall work with all Colleges in the Dublin Region to develop their Unions focusing on Unions who have been suspended or where a College does not have a functional Union, to assist the students of that College to establish one.
5.10.5 The VP/Dublin shall be responsible for
The implementation of Union campaigns within their region ,
Will assist MOs when requested in the run-up to or during campaigns, events, projects, initiatives, to improve the student experience and promote the Union.
Support MOs in their region with matters relating to local government such as planning objections, engaging with city & county councils, transportation and applying for grants.
Assist with Union Organisation ensuring best practise in union democracy and structure
To assist Member organisations with affiliations and partnership agreements
Will be responsible for support and training of part time officers
5.10.6 The VP/Dublin will chair the Dublin Regional Working Group. ”
2024 CA 6 Elections Subcommittee
Proposed by: Presidents Working Group
To be replace 6.2 The Elections Subcommittee with the following:
6.2 The Elections Subcommittee
6.2.1 Steering Committee shall have an Elections Subcommittee to which four members of Steering Committee shall be elected by the whole of Steering Committee.
6.2.2 Quorum for Elections Subcommittee shall be half plus one of the total memberships of that subcommittee.
6.2.3 From their number, Elections Subcommittee shall elect a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. The Chairperson of Steering Committee may not also chair Elections Subcommittee. The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Elections Subcommittee shall be the Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer, respectively, of the Union.
6.2.4 Elections Subcommittee shall be responsible for the running of all Union elections including inter alia setting deadlines for submission of nominations, receiving nominations, determining the validity of nominations and of candidates, organising hustings at Comhdháil or Comhairle Náisiúnta, organising polling, counting votes, and declaring results in accordance with the terms of this Constitution.
6.2.4.1 Elections Subcommittee shall, no later than 21 December in each year, publish regulations for the conduct of elections. These regulations will contain at least:
- a) any spending limits to be imposed on candidates for election to a role on the Coiste Gnó.
- b) any regulations relating to the conduct of elections
In the absence of newly published regulations, the regulations previously in force shall remain in force. In considering new regulations, the Elections Subcommittee shall have due regard to the need not to impose unnecessary regulations.
6.2.5 Elections Subcommittee shall receive, investigate, and adjudicate on all complaints relating to the running of Union elections; organise and chair Comhdháil elections, make regular reports to Comhdháil and Comhairle Náisiúnta regarding Union elections, and act as a credentials vetting Committee for delegates to Comhdháil.
6.2.6 Appeals relating to the conduct of Elections Subcomittee in elections may be forwarded to the Chair of Governance for consideration.
2024 CA 7 Grammar, Numerical and Irish Language Changes
Proposed by Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge
To replace all references of ‘ The Organisation’ or ‘USI’ with ‘The Union’
To replace all references to ‘Executive’ with ‘Coiste Gnó’
To replace all references to ‘Comhdháil’ with ‘Comhdháil’
To replace all references to ‘Policy Manual’ with ‘Policy File’
To replace all references any mention of ‘Committee’ with ‘Working Group’ except mentions to the Campaign Strategy Committee
Replace
“5.1.9 The Vice President for the Irish Language, who shall present themself as An Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge (LU/Gaeilge) in the daily conduct of their office;”
With
“ 5.1.9 An Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge”
Recent Comments