Union of Students in Ireland

Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn
President	Gary Redmond
Founded	1959
Headquarters	Dublin, Ireland
International affiliation	European Students' Union
Website	www.usi.ie

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) (Irish: Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn) is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is the sole national representative body for students in Ireland but does not represent students from two of the seven Irish Universities, namely Dublin City University and University of Limerick and also Cork Institute of Technology. Founded in 1959, USI now represents more than 250,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland. The goal of the USI is to work for rights of students and a fair and equal third level education system in Ireland.

The Union's sovereign body is its Annual Congress, and its executive authority is its National Council, comprising representatives from each member organisation. Members of the Officer Board of USI serve a one year term beginning on July 1. The current President is Gary Redmond.

Many past officers of USI have gone on to prominent positions within Irish society. Past USI presidents includes Chief Justice John L. Murray (1966/67) and broadcaster Joe Duffy (1983-84).

In Northern Ireland, USI jointly operates NUS-USI with the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom, with students being members of both national unions.

USI is a member of European Students' Union, was formerly a member of EURODOC and has provided officer-holders in both organisations.

Structure

The Union of Students in Ireland consists of five bodies formed from both elected members to USI and members of the affiliated Student Unions.

Officer Board

Officer Board is a Standing Committee of National Council and is composed of the elected officers of the Union. The board provides day to day leadership to the Union, produces annual plans for, and co-ordinate the work of the Union.

National Council

National Council is USI's main executive body consisting of representatives from each college and USI full time and part time officers. It is convened at least four times a year for the purpose of discussing the overall work of the national union.

Regional Conferences

Regional Conferences are held for the main purpose of electing the regional officer for the region. The regions are autonomous and discuss and debate policy for the region to co-ordinate and direct the work of the officer.

Standing Conferences

There are three standing conferences held each year with the purpose of electing the part-time officers and to discuss and formulate policy for that brief. The four conferences are: the Irish language conference; the Equality Standing Conference; and the Environmental Awareness conference.

Annual Congress

Annual Congress is USI's supreme decision making body which takes place over a 3-4 day period around Easter. All affiliated unions send a number of delegates to attend Congress. The number of delegates each CO sends depends on the number of students at their college. All student unions can submit motions and amendments for Congress.

Congress debates and votes on the various issues and motions submitted by member colleges. It also elects Officer Board for the coming year.

Notable Past Officers

Chief Justice John L. Murray was President in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held the post in 1983-84. Several prominent Irish politicians also started their careers through involvement in USI, including former Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Leader Mark Durkan, Labour Party Leader and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Labour Party Teachta Dála Colm Keaveney and Senator Ivana Bacik. Councillors include Fianna Fáil Councillor Malcolm Byrne, Labour Party Councillor Seán Ó hArgáin, Labour Party Councillor Chris Bond Labour Party Councillor Cian O'Callaghan Socialist Party councillor Mick Murphy. Broadcaster Vincent Browne and barristers Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC and Grainne McMorrow SC also held office in the organisation.

Other figures that have been involved in the student movement but did not progress to elected positions in USI include the ninth President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins (President of the Students Union in National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway), Supreme Court Justice Adrian Hardiman (President of the Students Union in University College Dublin, Independent Senator Ronan Mullen (President of the Students Union in NUI Galway, Socialist Party TD Clare Daly (President of the Students Union in Dublin City University), Paul Murphy MEP (activist in University College Dublin Students Union, and Labour TDs Derek Nolan and Ciara Conway, both of whom were Students Union activists in NUI Galway. Broadcaster and journalist Mary Raftery held a number of Students' Union positions in a number of Colleges, culminating in a term as Education Officer in UCD Students' Union.

Presidents of USI

Past Presidents
Years of office	Name	College
Current	Gary Redmond	University College Dublin Students' Union
2010–2011	Gary Redmond	University College Dublin Students' Union
2009–2010	Peter Mannion	National University of Ireland, Galway
2008–2009	Shane Kelly	Waterford Institute of Technology
2007–2008	Richard Morrisroe (until Oct 2007) Hamidreza Khodabakhshi	University College Cork Dublin Institute of Technology
2006–2007	Colm Hamrogue	Institute of Technology, Sligo
2005–2006	Tony McDonnell	National University of Ireland, Galway
2004–2005	Ben Archibald	Queens University Belfast
2003–2004	Will Priestley	Trinity College Dublin
2002–2003	Colm Jordan	Dublin Institute of Technology
2001–2002	Richard Hammond	University College Cork
2000–2001	Julian De Spáinn	National University of Ireland, Galway
1999–2000	Philip Madden	IT Carlow
1998–1999	Dermot Lohan	Dublin City University
1997–1998	Colman Byrne	Dublin Institute of Technology
1996–1997	Colman Byrne	Dublin Institute of Technology
1995–1996	Colm Keaveney	Letterkenny Institute of Technology
1994–1995	Helen O’Sullivan	Dublin Institute of Technology
1993–1994	Tom Duke	University College Dublin
1992–1993	Maxine Brady	Rupert Stanley College, Belfast
1991–1992	Maxine Brady	Rupert Stanley College, Belfast
1990–1991	Karen Quinlivan	University College Dublin
1989–1990	Stephen Grogan	University College Galway
1988–1989	Tadhg Daly	Cork Institute of Technology
1987–1988	Trish Hegarty	Queens University Belfast
1986–1987	Trish Hegarty	Queens University Belfast
1985–1986	John Doyle	Waterford Regional Technical College
1984–1985	Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha	University College Dublin
1983–1984	Joe Duffy	Trinity College Dublin
1982–1983	Brendan Doris	DIT Bolton St
1981–1982	Brendan Doris	DIT Bolton St
1980–1981	Gerry Grainger	Queen's University Belfast
1979–1980	Tom Costelloe	St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra
1978–1979	Peter Davies	NUU Coleraine
1977–1978	Eamon Gilmore	University College Galway
1976–1977	Eamon Gilmore	University College Galway
1975–1976	David Kavanagh	National College of Art and Design
1974–1975	Pat Brady	Queens University Belfast
1973–1974	Pat Rabbitte	University College Galway
1972–1973	Pat Rabbitte	University College Galway
1971–1972	Frank Flannery	University College Galway
1970–1971	Richard O'Toole	University College Galway
1969–1970	Enter Details
1968–1969	Ciaran McKeown	Queens University Belfast
1967–1968	Howard Kinlay	Trinity College Dublin
1966–1967	John Murray	University College Dublin
1965–1966	Gordon Colleary
1964–1965	Gordon Colleary
1963–1964	Denys Turner
1962–1963	Enter Details
1961–1962	Noel Igoe
1960–1961	Noel Igoe
1959–1960	John Hamilton-Russell

Deputy Presidents of USI

Past Deputy Presidents
Years of office	Name	College
2011–2012	Colm Murphy	Waterford Institute of Technology
2010–2011	Cónán Ó Broin John Logue	Trinity College Dublin University College Dublin
2009–2010	Dan O'Neill	University College Dublin
2008–2009	Dave Curran	University College Dublin
2007–2008	Vacant
2006–2007	Vacant
2005–2006	Ruth Ní Eidhin (until Nov 2005)	Trinity College Dublin
2004–2005	Rory Hearne	Trinity College Dublin
2003–2004	Gareth Keogh	National College of Ireland
2002–2003	Noel Hogan	NUI, Maynooth
2001–2002	Ross O'Donoghue	Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
2000–2001	Cian O'Callaghan
1999–2000	Julian De Spainn	National University of Ireland, Galway
1998–1999	Ronan Emmett	Dublin Institute of Technology
1997–1998	Helen Ryan	Dublin Institute of Technology
1996–1997	Noeleen Hartigan	University College Dublin
1995–1996	Bob Jordan	Dublin Institute of Technology
1994–1995	Colm Keaveney	Letterkenny RTC
1993–1994	Damian O'Broin	Dublin Institute of Technology
1992–1993	Tom Duke	University College Dublin
1991–1992	Tom Duke	University College Dublin
1990–1991	Maxine Brady	Rupert Stanley College, Belfast
1989–1990	Anne Marie Keary	University College Dublin
1988–1989	Garbhan Downey	University College Galway
1987–1988	Paul Cavanagh	Queen's University Belfast
1986–1987	Sean O'hArgain	Frobel College
1985–1986	Trish Hegarty	Queens University Belfast
1984–1985	Paddy O'Donovan	Sligo RTC
1983–1984	Mark Durkan	Queens University Belfast
1982–1983	Mark Durkan	Queens University Belfast
1981–1982	Liam Whitelaw	NUU Coleraine
1980–1981	Liam Whitelaw	NUU Coleraine
1979–1980	Christine Donaghy	St Mary's College, Belfast
1978–1979	John Gallagher	Saint Patrick's College Maynooth
1977–1978	Peter Davies	NUU Coleraine
1976–1977	Peter McEvoy	Queens University Belfast
1975–1976	Mairtin Ó Siadhail	Carlow RTC
1974–1975	Brendan Glynn	University College Galway
1973–1974	Kieran Mulvey	University College Dublin
1972–1973	Pearse Reynolds	University College Dublin
1971–1972	Paul Tansey	Trinity College Dublin
1970–1971	Jim Hamilton	Trinity College Dublin

Officer Board

Current Board (2011–2012)
Full Time
Post	Holder
President	Gary Redmond
Deputy President	Colm Murphy
Education Officer	Aengus Ó Maoláin
Welfare Officer	Scott Ahearn
Equality Officer	Gerard Gallagher
Eastern Area Officer	Suzann Tutty
Western Area Officer	Breffni Gorman
Southern Area Officer	Kate Acheson
Northern Area Officer / NUS-USI President	Adrianne Peltz
Part Time (Paid)
Post	Holder
LGBT Rights Officer	Siobhán McGuire
Part Time (Unpaid)
Post	Holder
Irish Language Officer	Peadar de Blúit
Environment Officer	-
Postgraduate Officer	-

Equality Campaign Working Group

As part of a restucturing motion passed by Congress 2009, there is now an Equality Campaign Working Group which consists of 4 part time officers in addition to the Equality Officer & LGBT Rights Officer. The part time officers are as follows:

Equality Campaign Working Group (2011–2012)
Post	Holder
Disability Rights Officer	Antonia Virovska
Gender Equality Officer	Tomás Conway
International Students Officer	Katelyn Sherry
Mature Students Officer	Patrick Maher

*Equality Working Group is a separate entity to USI Officerboard.

External links

• Official site