[…]financial pressures students face across the country. The announced expenditure by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is a missed opportunity to begin to rectify the failure of successive Governments after years of cuts and neglect across Higher and Further Education. Additionally, measures to address the housing and homelessness crisis have entirely failed to include the lack of accommodation for students that is affordable and of high quality. Responding to the Budget announcement, President of USI, Síona Cahill said “Our students continue to face the second highest fees in Europe, haven’t seen any grant increases since they were cut during austerity […]
[…]Union of Students in Ireland has written to all members of the Joint Oireachtas committee examining the 8th amendment, regarding the Committee’s final decision-making process. USI has written the letter jointly with other leading civil society organisations including the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI), the Abortion Right’s Campaign (ARC), the Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment, and Amnesty International Ireland, who are advocating for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and the introduction of legislation mandating women’s and girls’ access to safe abortion in Ireland, in line with global and European good practice. USI is clearly asking representatives to consider […]
[…]an Indecon report on the reinvestment back into the economy and society that Universities make in the Irish third level system, a figure of almost €9 billion per annum. Cahill further remarked: “We need to recognise as a state the value of not only investing in education, but how that education system shapes society itself. Challenging prevailing campus cultures must be part of that mission. We must #FundTheFuture to demand a better future and indeed present, for us all.” Vice President for Welfare of USI, Damien McClean who also sat on the expert group said: “This framework report isn’t a celebration on […]
[…]of GMIT Students’ Union, played an important role in not only the student movement, but also in the battle to legalise abortion in Ireland, and a range of other social issues. Stephen bravely stood up for the right to information during a time when abortion was illegal in Ireland, even being named in a court case by an anti-choice organisation for doing so. His legacy will be long remembered. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a […]
[…]legislation and follow international standards of good practice that support the recruitment, training and career development of researchers. The regulatory architecture being created by the Bill lacks academic representation and puts the researcher out of formation, management and oversight of the new agency. Our experience with the funding agencies that exist has been quite poor. From sick and maternity leave to research funds, the research agencies have always closed their doors to students’ and postgraduate researchers’ concerns. There is nothing in this Bill which will ensure that all stakeholders will be engaged and listened to when it comes to general […]
