Today (Wednesday, June 18th) the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is hosting a lobby of the Oireachtas on social issues in Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, Dublin. The event started at 08:30 and will finish at 17:30pm. Students will be available to discuss important social issues with members of the Oireachtas throughout the day.
USI have previously engaged with members of the Oireachtas on our Pre-Budget campaign, and held various briefings on matters relating to third-level education funding and supports, with this event the focus is on a range of social issues which particularly concern our membership.
We will be covering the following topics in our Social Lobby document:
- Student Housing & Accommodation
- LGBTQ Rights: Marriage Equality & Gender Recognition
- Voter Registration & Civic Engagement
- Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Reproductive Rights & Sexual Violence
- Language Rights
USI President Joe O’Connor said;
‘In 1959, the students of Ireland built their Union on the principles “for the defense, promotion and organisation of the fundamental educational, welfare, economic, political, social, cultural and other interests of all the students in Ireland on a national and international level.”
Today our principles are the same as they were almost 55 years ago, Ireland has changed as has its students but our core values remain the same. We work to improve student life across the board and to ensure student voices are heard. The student movement embraces equality for all, encourages student voter registration and places mental health support at the forefront of our policies.
Our Social Lobby Policy lays out the social policy priorities of USI for the consideration and discussion of members of the Oireachtas.’
With our newly-elected USI Officers and also Students’ Union Officers from right across the country due to begin their respective terms of office on July 1st, this event will afford a unique opportunity to forge relationships with both the outgoing and incoming student leaders of 2013-14 and 2014-15.
View the USI Social Lobby Policy documents.
Follow the conversation on Twitter.