16/05/2024 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Comhairle Náisiúnta May 2024 TUS Midwest, Limerick […]
[…]Union of Students in Ireland stands in solidarity with Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union and the Trinity students who have set up an encampment for Palestine on the campus. USI also strongly condemns attempts by the college to fine the Students’ Union €214,000 for using their right to protest to demand the university cuts ties with Israel, as it carries out genocide against the Palestinian people. TCD Students’ Union and Trinity students have carried out a number of protests against the college’s links with Israel and against attempts by Trinity management to increase rents and fees for students, which […]
Issued on behalf of the National Students Action Group by the Union of Students in Ireland at 1.30pm on 16.04.24 Members of the National Students Action Group, including students from a number of universities and colleges and the Union of Students in Ireland, are currently occupying the Department of Finance demanding to deliver a letter directly to Minister Michael McGrath or Minister Paschal Donohoe. The letter outlines the terrible conditions that many students are currently facing and says that the group is taking direct action against Government due to the rise in youth homelessness and lack of welfare and financial supports for […]
[…]occasions since he was appointed Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in June 2020, but has not seen any real change to improve the increasingly stressful situation facing students in Ireland. Any measures that have been introduced have been temporary, piecemeal, or simply PR exercises aimed at making it look like action is being taken on student issues, such as the ‘one-off’ reductions to the Student Contribution Charge or the ‘smoke and mirrors’ announcing and reannouncing of student accommodation plans. However, now-Taoiseach Harris, has told USI representatives this year that he agrees with us on the need for […]
[…]dropping out, or working full-time jobs along with studying, because of the cost of accommodation and going to college. And so, USI completely refutes Taoiseach Varadkar’s assertion that the economy and society is in a good place or that we are out of the cost-of-living crisis. However, if there is no general election and Fine Gael is simply allowed to choose the next Taoiseach among themselves, USI will be watching the actions of the new leader and their cabinet very closely. Students have four key demands that we need to see happen immediately and while politicians might think young people […]
[…]attended the launch of Sinn Féin’s legislation to protect student renters in digs accommodation and is eagerly awaiting that Bill coming before the Oireachtas and calls on all TDs to support this legislation when it is voted on. A PDF of the report is here: Student Digs: National Survey […]
[…]which has been expected since last summer. Instead, on Friday Minister Harris stated: “This vision and policy will inform a new Student Accommodation Strategy, which will be published later this year,” and the Government statement said that the new policy was that “Government will fund the delivery of purpose built student accommodation.” (statement here) But this policy was already announced in November 2022, when Minister Harris said: “This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the state providing financial support in the construction of on-site student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments set out in Housing for All. I am […]
[…]opportunity’. It quotes Article 1 of the Genocide Convention, which places an obligation on State parties to the Genocide Convention – which Ireland is – to take measures to prevent genocide. Additionally, it is noted that the Ireland has previously acted on its obligation under Article 1, filing an intervention in support of a case taken by Ukraine against Russia in 2022, under the Genocide Convention. Speaking ahead of the protest, USI Vice President for Campaigns, Zaid Al-Barghouthi said: “We call on our members to mobilise and turn out to show our support for this motion. We have a moral […]