University College Dublin Students' Union

University College Dublin Students' Union

Institution	University College Dublin
Location	Student Centre, UCD, Dublin 4.
Established	1975
Members	Approximately 23,000
Affiliations	Union of Students in Ireland
Website	www.ucdsu.ie

University College Dublin Students' Union (UCDSU; Template:Lang-ga) is the Students' Union of University College Dublin, and has been an active part of campaigns run by its national equivalent, the Union of Students in Ireland. It was founded in 1975 as the successor of the Student Representative Council and began operations in 1975, under the presidency of Enda Connolly. Its primary role is to represent its members views and defend their interests.

All students of UCD who are studying for a degree or postgraduate diploma of the National University of Ireland are, on registration at the university, members. The Union is funded by a membership fee paid at the same time as the student services levy ("registration fee") at the start of the academic year. In addition to its campaign work the Union also provides some services such as five shops; a photocopying bureau; Belfield FM (radio station); Welfare and Education services such as a second-hand bookshop and Niteline phoneline; and the provision of a full-time Accommodation and Employment Officer. UCDSU has offices in the Student Centre and Library Building in Belfield.

The Union is a constituent organisation of, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).

Structure

The main governing body of UCDSU, subject only to referenda and General Meetings of the members of the Union, is the Union Council, which meets every second week of term. The Union Council is composed chiefly of the Class Representatives elected in their respective constituencies. These constituencies are elected at a flexible ratio, far lower than a previously arbitrary ratio of one representative per 125 students. The power of Union Council is conferred in a de facto manner on the Union Executive outside of term. The Union Executive, composed of all elected Union Sabbatical and non-Sabbatical Officers as well as the Union Secretary, meets weekly during term and fortnightly outside of it. There are five Sabbatical Officers, who are involved in the day-to-day running of the Union. The President and two nominated Vice-Presidents, as agreed by the Executive, are student representatives on the UCD Governing Authority. A Sabbatical term of office is twelve months in duration and commences on July 1 each year, although the incoming officers are, in accordance with the UCDSU Constitution, given job training by the incumbents from June 15. Sabbatical elections take place in late February–early March of each year. Sabbatical officers take a year out from academic studies and work full-time for the Union.

The composition of the Union's Council includes:

• The five full-time directly elected Sabbatical Executive Officers
• The directly elected non-sabbatical Executive Officers
• The Council elected Executive Officers
• The Programme Officers
• Class Representatives
• Four Residence Representatives
• Four members of the Union elected by a general meeting of the Students’ Consultative Forum
• One member of the Union nominated by the Committee of Management of the Student Club
• One member of the Union nominated by the Management Committee of the Student Centre Forum Club
• One member of the Union to represent the interests of students with disabilities and elected by such a body as may be recognised for this purpose by the Independent Appeals Board
• One member of the Union to represent the interests of mature students elected by such a body as may be recognised for this purpose by the Independent Appeals Board
• The immediate outgoing President and Vice-Presidents

The President is the First Officer of the Union in accordance with the Union Constitution, and the other four Sabbatical Officers are equally ranking Vice-Presidents of the Union. The five Sabbatical positions are:

• Union President
• Campaigns & Communications Vice-President (formerly Deputy President Vice-President)
• Education Vice-President
• Welfare Vice-President
• Entertainments ("Ents") Vice-President

Sabbatical Executive Officers

directly elected by Union members

	President	Education VP	Welfare VP	Entertainments VP (formerly Social & Cultural VP)	Campaigns & Communications VP (formerly Deputy President VP)
1975/76	Enda Connolly	Joseph Little	Billy McGrath	Billy McGrath
1976/77	Charles McNally	Joe O'Reilly	David Kavanagh	Marcus de Cogan
1977/78	Conall O\'Morian	Mary Raftery	Tommy O'Connor	Anna Purcell
1978/79	Dave Waddell	Brian Macaba	Brighid Ruane	Kenin Higgins
1979/80	Chris O'Malley	Derek McDowell	Colm de Bhaldraithe	Oliver O'Rourke
1980/81	Marguerite Aherne	Billy Linehan	Diarmuid de Paor/ Greg Byrne	Lughaidh O'Clerigh
1981/82	Conn Gregg	Aideen Hayden	Moire Leyden	Patrick Ralph
1982/83	Giollaisa Ó Lideadha	Tony Medhurst	Hubert Mannion	Billy Linehan
1982/84	Giollaisa Ó Lideadha	Catherine Neville	Rosa Meehan	Paul Hickey
1984/85	John O'Neill	Sean Kinneane	Josephine Kirwan	David Ralph
1985/86	Diarmuid Flemming	Sean Kinneane	Stephanie Walsh	Mickey Rourke
1986/87	Ulick Stafford/ Andrew Burke	Yvonne Judge	Finnola MacAodha	Andrew Burke
1987/88	Kevin McDermott	David Hughes	Belinda Flaherty	Dave Kilroy
1988/89	Diarmuid Coogan	Anne Farrell	Anne-Marie Keary	Francois Pittion
1989/90	Tom Duke	Eoin O'Neill	Joan O'Connor	Lorcan Fullam
1990/91	Joe Delaney	Denis Murphy	Elaine Butler	Mark Collins
1991/92	Denis Murphy	Ollie Doyle	Muireann Grogan	Mark Collins
1992/93	Barry Roche	Liam Kelly	Cydney Foote	Karl O'Hanlon
1993/94	Liam Kelly	Shaymus Kennedy	Noeleen Hartigan	Paul Davis
1994/95	Aisling Ní Bhriain	Malcolm Byrne	Stephanie Lacey	Conor O'Kane
1995/96	Loughlin Deegan	Garrett Tubridy	Shane Fitzgerald	John Mitchell
1996/97	Shane Fitzgerald	Cormac Moore	Fiona Hannon	Darragh Purcell
1997/98	Ian Walsh	Liam Dockery	John Nesbit	Darragh Purcell/ Niall Donnelly
1998/99	John Nisbet	Charles McConalogue	John Moynes	Scott Millar
1999/00	Carol Fahy	Eamon O'Lionáinn	Alison Gibney	Niall Donald
2000/01	Eamonn Ó Lionnáin	Michael Shovlin	John Paul Swaine	Paul Burke
2001/02	Aonghus Hourihane	Aisling Maguire	Róisín McKeon	Eoin Holohan	Christian Hughes
2002/03	Aonghus Hourihane	Abey Campbell	Séamus Ó Maoinaigh	Marc Ryberg	Ross Higgins
2003/04	Paul Dillon	Oisín Kelly	Jennifer Allen	David Sherry	Aidan Regan
2004/05	Fergal Scully	James Carroll	Shane Hennelly	Gearóid Cashman	Ciarán Weafer
2005/06	James Carroll	Jane Horgan-Jones	Dan Hayden	Anthony Kelly	Dave Curran
2006/07	Dan Hayden	Brian Doyle	Barry Colfer	Holly Irvine	Dave Curran
2007/08	Barry Colfer	Ronan Shanahan	Vivian Rath	Stephen Quinlivan	Ciara Brennan
2008/09	Aodhán Ó Deá	Paul Lynam	Conor Fingleton	Gary Redmond	Dan O'Neill
2009/10	Gary Redmond	Donnacha Ó Suilleabháin	Scott Ahearn	Mike-Pat O'Donoghue	Paddy Ryan
2010/11	Paul Lynam	James Williamson	Scott Ahearn	Jonny Cosgrove	Pat de Brún
2010/11	Pat de Brún	Sam Geoghegan	Rachel Breslin	Stephen Darcy	Brendan Lacey

Non-sabbatical Executive Officers

Elected by Union members

Non-sabbatical Executive Officers (directly elected by the Union Membership)
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
Irish Language	Colman Mac Shealaigh	Neasa Nic Shealaigh	Sinéad Ní Mhaolmhicil	Órla Ní Threasaigh	Dónal Ó Suilleabháin	Aodhán Ó Deá	Donal Hanratty	Aoife Nic Samhrain	Sarah Ní Mhuirí
Finance	Oisin O'Sullivan	Donnachadh Woulfe	Anthony Kelly	Eugeniya Kazakova	Stephen Quinlivan	Natalie Dunne	Position Abolished
Communications & IT	Philip Gilsenan	Brian O'Farrell	Ciaran Melody	Pierce Farrell	Gary Redmond	Stephen Fitzpatrick	Position Abolished
Women's	Dave Doran	Brendan Crowley	Tobie Marven/Louise Troy	Michelle Killeen	Carol-Anne Rushe	Aisling O'Connor (Motion of No-Confidence passed. Made Brian Cowan look competent, handsome and politically successful)	Isobel O'Connor	Jacqueline Brennan	Regina Brady
Postgraduate, Evening & Mature Students' Officer	Sinead Mac Bride	Dan Finn	James Redmond	Patrick McKay	Denis Ryan	Position Abolished
Postgraduate Officer	Previously Postgraduate, Evening & Mature Students' Officer						Stephanie Cremen	Kimberly Foy	Martin Lawless
Environmental Officer	Previously elected by Union Council						Kimberly Foy	Ruth O'Ghormain	Alan Pierce

Elected by Union Council

Usually elected at the first Union Council meeting of the year.

Executive Officers elected by the Union Council
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10
Environmental	(no such office)	Patrick Quinlan	Patrick Quinlan	Molly Walsh	Luke O hEideain	Luke O hEideain	Position Upgraded
LGBT	Paul McGann/John Murray	Tobie Marvin	Sarah O’Sullivan	Dave Gilsenan	Angela Tuite / Laura Finlay	Robert Doyle	Ryan Griffin / Laura Finlay	Colm Maguire
International Students'	Abir Puri	Michael Langtry	Patrick Wall	Niall Dolan	Laurence Banville	Manuel Yoacham	Helena Conway	Kevin Regan
Outlying Faculties	(no such office)	Peter Reynolds	Peter Doris	Colm Byrne	Alison Ryan	Colin Scally	Position Abolished
Disability Rights	Niamh Hayes	Eamonn O'Raghallaigh	Naoise Waldron	Vivian Rath	Jean Daly	Benjamin Boyle	Scott Ahearn	Deirdre Breslin
Mature Students'	Position Created in 2008						Denis Ryan	Martin Lawless

Programme Officers

Programme Officers (Created in 2006 and directly elected by the students in each relevant University Programme
	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
Arts, Celtic Studies & Human Sciences	Paul Lynam & Chris Bond	Scott Ahearn & Jonny Cosgrove	Jonny Cosgrove & Adrian Grogan	Jonny Cosgrove & Madeline Gallagher	Edel Ní Churraoin & James Doyle
Business & Law	Patrick Rath	Conor King	Separated into two positions
Business	Previously Business & Law		Michael Patrick O'Donoghue	Gohar Abassi	Emma Fortune
Law	Previously Business & Law		Aíne Gilhooly	Pat de Brun	Conor O'Hanlom
Science	Jane Tiernan	Paul Fannon	Donnacha Ó Súilleabháin	James Williamson	Maggie O'Connor
Health Sciences	Colm Byrne	Isobel O'Connor	Caitríona Quinn	Donal Hanratty	Aoife Nic Samhrain
Engineering & Architecture	Jennifer Murphy	Conor Fingleton	Patrick Ryan	Simon Keating	Patrick Alvarez
Agricultural Science & Veterinary Medicine	Helen Keane	Helen Keane	Separated into two positions
Agricultural Science	Previously Agricultural Science & Veterinary Medicine		Eva Griffin	Brian O' Connor	Cian O’Donnell
Veterinary Science	Previously Agricultural Science & Veterinary Medicine		Andrew Springer Browne	Aisling McGrath	Vacant
Nursing	Anthony Pender	Position unfilled	Colette Leneghan	Unfilled	Position contained in Health Sciences

Union staff appointed on an annual basis

Staff Officers (appointed by a panel headed by the President in accordance with Article 15 of the Union's constitution)
	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Design & Communications Officer	(no such position)	James Redmond	Patrick McKay	Patrick McKay	Al Kennington	Al Kennington
Accommodation & Employment Officer	Finbar Dwyer	Enda Duffy	Shaun Smyth	Michael Pat O’Donoghue	(position merged with Research & Development)	Danielle Pender	David Jones	Research & Development Officer	(previously two separate positions) Anthony Kelly and Dermot Looney respectively	Dan Finn	Peter Doris	(position redefined)	(position merged with Accommodation & Employment)	Colin Scally	Publications & Communications Officer	(no such position)			Eoghan O’Duinn	(position abolished)
Accommodation, Employment, Research and Development Officer	(previously two separate positions)				Gavan Reilly	(position abolished)
Ents Events & Logistics Coordinator	(no such position)				Gary Redmond	Paul Sweeney

Mr Patrick McKay is the only staff officer to have ever produced a written report.

Other Offices and Administrators

Voluntrary administrative positions incumbent until the election of their successors at the first Council meeting following Council elections each October.
	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10
Chair of Council	Séamus Ó Maonaigh	Shaun Smyth	Fergal Scully / Patrick Carroll*	Michael D. Clarke	Gavan Reilly	Gavan Reilly/Colin Scally*	Colin Scally
Vice-Chair of Council	Pierce Farrell	Morgan Shelly	Patrick Carroll / Gary Redmond	Gary Redmond	Isobel O'Connor	Isobel O'Connor	Paul Lynam
Secretary	Robert Morrough	Jane Horgan-Jones	Gavan Reilly	Colin Scally	Rory Geraghty	Treasa Coleman	Edel Ní Churrain
Vice-Secretary	Aoife Ni Bhrian	Stephen Kelly	Ryan Griffin	Isobel O'Connor	Treasa Coleman	Deirdre Breslin	Vacant

• Fergal Scully Resigned for Personal Reasons in January 2006.
• Scully's replacement, Patrick Carroll, resigned due to election to the USI in September 2006. The functions of the 05/06 Chair were completed by Michael D Clark.
• Gavan Reilly resigned for academic reasons in November 2008.

The supreme judicial organ of the Union is the Independent Appeals Board as detailed in Article 18 of the Union's Constitution.

The individual who has been the longest involved and longest associated with the Union is Patrick J. O'Flynn, the Union's Chief Returning Officer. Most of the ground-work involved in Union elections and referendums is performed by the Union Returning Officer, an office currently held by Morgan Shelley. Both of these office holders sit on the Independent Appeals Board.

The Union Financial Administrator, Dave Carmody, is not a Union employee, but is permanently seconded to the Union by the university. He is the only other university employee who sits on the Independent Appeals Board.

The Union Legal Advisor is Leo Mangan of Mangan O’Beirne Solicitors.

A full-time PA is employed by the Union. It is now held by Giselle Jiang.

External links

• University College Dublin Students' Union — the official website of UCDSU.
• Union of Students in Ireland — the website of the Union of Students in Ireland
• UCDSU Constitution — The most recently amended form of the Union's Constitution.

References

Official Union archives, Student Centre, UCD, Dublin 4