The National Council of the Union of Students in Ireland

Transcription

1 The National Council of the Union of Students in Ireland Minutes National Council USI, NC55.3 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown 13 th September, 2014 Chairperson: Deputy Chairperson: Julian de Spáinn Richard Hammond NAMES APPEARING ON THE ATTENDANCE LIST: (No liability and/or reproach accepted for difficulties deciphering manuscript notations) AITSU Daniel Coulter CITSU Michael Linehan Kevin Ronan Shane Falvey CCSU Niall Torris DCUSU Kenneth Browne DITSU Fiachrá Duffy Cíara Murnane GMITSU Sam O Neill Michael Kerrigan Amy Kelly ITSSU Cillín Folan Helen Campbell ITTSU Ben Slimm Steve Clifford Níamh Murtagh MSU Ben Finnegan NCISU Emmet Hughes Síona Cahill James Duffy NUIGSU Declan Higgins Phelim Kelly Aoife Ní Shuilleabháin QUBSU Caoímhe McNeill Chloe Patterson

2 TCDSU Katie Byrne Samuel Riggs Bord na noifigeach, AMLÉ Laura Harmon, President Kevin Donoghue, Deputy President and Vice President for Academic Affairs & Quality Assurance Greg O Donoghue, Vice President for Welfare Glenn FitzPatrick, Vice President for Campaigns Annie Hoey, Vice President for Equality and Citizenship Conor Stitt, Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region Martin Lynch, Vice President for the Southern Region Feidhlim Seoighe, Vice President for the Irish Language/Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge NAMES FOR WHOM APOLOGIES WERE OFFERED TO THE MEETING: (CO Presidents/Delegate Leaders/Officer Board Only) Rebecca Hall, Vice President for the Northern Region. Preliminary The meeting approved the admittance of Pat Montague and Steve Rawson. 1. Minutes The minutes of the meeting which occurred at Queen s University Belfast in August 2014 were proposed by MSU, seconded by GMITSU and passed without objection. 2. Matters Arising None. 3. Pre-Nominated Any Other Business The BMW region pre-nominated the level of attendance at the first centralised meeting of National Council. The VPE&C pre-nominated the Social Media Policy and College Awareness Week. The President pre-nominated Non-Affiliate attendance at the Rally for Education. QUBSU pre-nominated Freshers Packs. DCUSU pre-nominated Nightline. 4. Officer Reports The Vice President for Welfare had nothing to add to his report. There were no questions.

3 The Vice President for the Border, Midlands & Western Region had nothing to add to his report. There were no questions. The Vice President for Campaigns had nothing to add to his report. There were no questions. The Vice President for Equality & Citizenship had nothing to add to her report save to mention that she had met with ICOS and the DVD is delayed but will be released in the next few weeks and to confirm that the National Voter Registration Day will occur in early October. There were no questions. The Vice President the Southern Region had nothing to add to his report. There were no questions. The Vice President for the Irish Language had nothing to add to his report. There were no questions. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance had nothing to add to his report save to thank ITCSU and MSU for providing lunch during campus visits. There were no questions. The President had nothing to add to her report. GMITSU asked about the promotion of Computer Shop and the President confirmed that the launch is imminent and the promotional plan will then follow. 5. Items for Agreement 5(a) Amendments to Schedules of USI Constitution and Adoption of Standing Orders DITSU proposed CA1 Visitors to National Council and Congress. This was seconded by QUBSU and was passed unanimously. DITSU proposed CA2 Standing Orders of National Council. This was seconded by NUIGSU and was passed unanimously. DITSU proposed a suite of Standing Orders for National Council for adoption. This was seconded by the President and was passed unanimously.

4 5(b) USI Advisory Panels The President, the DP&VPAA&QA, the VPW, and the VPE&C outlined their proposed Advisory Panels, each of which were passed without objection. 6. Items for Discussion 6(a) Pre-Budget Campaign and Pre-Budget Lobbying The President noted that posters are being ed in PDF this week and a class address template is being developed by the VPBMW which will be circulated together with routes and guidelines for stewards. She noted that circa 20 other organisations are lending their name to the campaign and that a Social Media drive will commence in the week following the meeting. The President then introduced Pat Montague and Steve Rawson who gave a presentation in relation to lobbying and campaigning. Upon conclusion of the presentation the President thanked both speakers for their assistance. 6(b) Cuts to Further Education Hardship Fund in Northern Ireland QUBSU explained that STG 1.3m has been taken out of the Hardship Fund. The Department claims that a reduction in demand justifies the cut bit the availability of the fund is not well advertised. The funding has been diverted to the FE Award, utilisation of which precludes access to the Hardship Fund. Some students are now reliant on food-banks due to financial hardship. NUS-USI is lobbying to have the money returned to the Hardship Fund. If the initial lobbying is ineffective then a substantial campaign will follow. The President pledged full support for the campaign. 6(c) Centralisation of National Council The President sought feedback on this weekend as the first centralised National Council. A lengthy discussion ensued. DISTU suggested that the meeting occur closer to Dublin city centre between Heuston Train Station and Connolly Train Station. NUIGSU noted that there is nothing in the mandate from USI Congress regarding centralisation of meetings of National Council that requires the meetings to be centralised in Dublin and extolled the virtue of considering other venues. ITTSU opined that Blanchardstown is a better location than the city centre for those travelling from outside of Dublin. CCSU suggested using a hotel with a shuttle bus and NUIGSU suggested that a less expensive hotel be sourced.

5 QUBSU considered that had its full team travelled then it would have been very expensive and that SUs from FEs in Northern Ireland cannot afford to attend USI events. It also noted the incongruity of meeting in an expensive hotel discussing student hardship. This view was supported by DCUSU. GMITSU noted that Athlone is more central and less expensive so should be considered. MSU disagreed with Athlone as a venue and was not enamoured with Blanchardstown. It suggested that meetings should continue to be hosted in Dublin but at a more viable location. NCISU suggested meeting at a hostel with conference facilities in the city centre and suggested Generator in Smithfield. NUIGSU suggested meeting at a Dublin campus while sourcing accommodation offsite. DITSU agreed with this concept noting that each MO could then source its own accommodation in accordance with its own needs. CITSU was satisfied that having everything in the one building for this National Council weekend had the effect of streamlining the activities which worked well before suggesting that a venue on the LUAS line would be suitable. ITTSU rejoined that meeting on-campus in Dublin would add to the perception that USI is a Dublin-centric organisation and expressed a preference for a neutral noncampus venue. TCDSU reminded the meeting that meetings on-campus in Dublin at the weekend will result in additional costs to on-campus security for the opening of buildings. GMITSU suggested that the cost of hosting is outweighed by the costs of travel and accommodation and urged Officer Board to consider options and develop a plan. IADTSU recommended that options outside of Dublin be considered. NUIGSU asked that costings for a hotel and a hostel option in Athlone, Dublin and Galway be obtained for consideration. The President thanked the meeting for the feedback and confirmed that she will discuss the matter with the General Manager and circulate options. 7. Steering Committee Elections The President noted that Julian de Spáinn and Richard Hammond have already been elected to Steering Committee through their roles with National Council. She noted that eight previous members had indicated an interest in remaining on Steering Committee and that two new parties had expressed an interest.

6 The President then proposed the following for appointment to Steering Committee: Layne Aston Chris Newell Aodhán Ó Deá Scott Ahearn Brighid Breathnach Paul Lynam Cathy Pembroke Colm Murphy Rebecca Murphy Eric FitzGerald. This proposal was seconded by the DP&VPAA&QA and was passed without objection. 8. Items for Information 8(a) Funding for Education Focus Groups / Teaching Heroes The DP&VPAA&QA outlined funding options. 8(b) PRTB Study into Student Accommodation Crisis The President noted that she had been in contact with the PRTB regarding a joint study and there is likely to be some funding available for a study. 8(c) Union Development The VPC asked MOs to liaise with the regional Vice Presidents regarding 3-5 main goals for the year. 8(d) USI Activists Academy The date for this event is 24 th October, (e) Memorandum of Understanding between MOs and USI The Memorandum of Understanding remains under development. 9. Any Other Business The VPBMW on behalf of the BMW Region expressed the region s concern about the poor attendance from Dublin MOs at this weekend s meetings. NUIGSU noted that only one MO from Dublin was in attendance at the Campaigns Working Group which is a cause for concern given the need for a strong turnout of Dublin students. CCSU opined that there has been a remarkably poor local attendance and ITTSU commented that this topic arose at the Southern Regional meeting also.

7 NUIGSU asserted that everyone has commitments and if the MOs located peripherally have to travel then it is incumbent on the central MOs to be in attendance also, before suggesting that another centralised location other than Dublin be considered. ITSSU reflected that the turnout at last year s march from Dublin MOs was not as strong as expected. The President acknowledged the disappointment expressed by MOs commenting that both the date and the venue had been notified well in advance. She noted that work is ongoing with the Dublin MOs to ensure a high turnout at the Rally for Education. The VPC mentioned that a preparation event for officers of Dublin MOs is being organised to be hosted by NCISU to help boost turnout at the Rally for Education. MSU urged that the concerns as expressed not be allowed to fester into a source of division, opining that it has never been more important for the student movement to be united. The VPE&C outlined a Social Media Policy. She then confirmed that the VPW and she would be the new moderators for the online forum and urged people to contact her or the VPW in relation to inappropriate postings. The VPE&C confirmed that College Awareness Week will occur toward the end of November with a focus on broadening access. She suggested that Ms. Kathleen O Toole be invited to attend National Council and this suggestion met with approval. The President proposed that non-affiliated students unions be invited to attend the Rally for Education. This was seconded by DCUSU and following a debate the proposal was passed by majority. QUBSU noted that Freshers Packs are not arriving to QUB until next week commenting that there appears to be some disarray regarding logistics and suggesting that there needs to be improvement in relation to communication about delivery dates, times and locations. The President apologised to QUBSU for any inconvenience caused and explained that the logistical inconsistencies occurred outside of the control of Officer Board. DCUSU noted that it had been contacted by Nightline seeking 4,000 and Nightline was unwilling to provide much information for legal reasons. As it is effectively a welfare service he asked MOs to contact him with thoughts.

8 The President thanked everyone for attending and for their constructive and energetic engagement. The Chairperson thanked all present for their participation, and closed the meeting.