Union of Students in Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Union of Students in Ireland (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. Founded in 1959, USI now represents more than 250,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland.
The Union works for:
a) An education & training system open to all, irrespective of any consideration of national origin, race, sex, sexuality, creed, political beliefs or economic circumstances, so that each individual can realise their full potential in the service of the Irish people.
b) An education & training system that through the development of art and literature, natural and social sciences truly serves the interests of the people of Ireland.
c) The right of students to a decent standard of living, with the right to adequate financial support, proper housing and future prospects of employment in Ireland.
d) The defence and promotion of all democratic and human rights.
e) The provision of student services for the benefit of the membership on the principle that control of student services should lie with the membership.
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 1st. As of 2006, the president of USI is Colm Hamrogue of IT Sligo, who succeeded Tony McDonnell of NUI Galway.
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 Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Leader Mark Durkan, Labour TD Eamon Gilmore, Fianna Fáil Councillor Malcolm Byrne,Labour Party Councillor, Seán Ó hArgáin, Socialist Party councillor Mick Murphy, Labour's Ivana Bacik former Mayor of Tuam, Colm Keaveney and Labour and ITGWU/SIPTU activist Pat Brady.
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 member of both ESIB and EURODOC and have provided officer-holders in both organisations.
Contents |
[edit] Presidents of USI
| Past Presidents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of office | Name | College | |
| 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 Priestly | 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 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1986-1987 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1985-1986 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1984-1985 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1983-1984 | Joe Duffy | Trinity College Dublin | |
| 1982-1983 | Joe Duffy | Trinity College Dublin | |
| 1981-1982 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
[edit] Deputy Presidents of USI
| Past Deputy Presidents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of office | Name | College | |
| 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 | Julian De Spáinn | National University of Ireland, Galway | |
| 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 | Mick Murphy | Cork Institute of Technology | |
| 1988-1989 | Mick Murphy | Cork Institute of Technology | |
| 1987-1988 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1986-1987 | Sean O'hArgain | Frobel College | |
| 1985-1986 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1984-1985 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1983-1984 | Mark Durkan | Queens University Belfast | |
| 1982-1983 | Mark Durkan | Queens University Belfast | |
| 1981-1982 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
[edit] Officer Board 06/07
- President: Colm Hamrogue
- Education Officer: Bernadette Farrell
- Welfare Officer: Kelly Mackey
- Eastern Area Officer: John McGuirk
- Western Area Officer: Kieran O'Malley
- Southern Area Officer: Katie Morrisroe
- Northern Area Officer: Colleen Dowdall
- LGBT Rights Officer: Steve Conlon
- Irish Language Officer: Ciaran Mac Fheargusa
- Postgraduate Officer: Patrick Carroll
