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Union of Students in Ireland Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn
President	Peter Mannion
Founded	1952
Headquarters	Dublin, Ireland
International affiliation	European Students' Union Eurodoc
Website	www.usi.ie

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. ^[1] The goal of the USI is to work for rights of students and a fair and equal third level education system in Ireland.

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 1. The current President is Peter Mannion.

Many past officers of USI have gone on to prominent positions within Irish society, Chief Justice John L. Murray was President in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held the post in 1983-84.

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 1 Structure 1.1 Officer Board 1.2 National Council 1.3 Regional Conferences 1.4 Standing Conferences 1.5 Annual Congress 2 Notable Past Officers 3 Presidents of USI 4 Deputy Presidents of USI 5 Officer Board 09/10 6 Officer Board 08/09 7 Officer Board 07/08 8 Officer Board 06/07 9 Officer Board 05/06 10 Officer Board 04/05 11 Officer Board 03/04 12 Officer Board 02/03 13 Officer Board 01/02 14 Officer Board 00/01 15 Officer Board 99/00 16 References 17 External links

[edit] Structure

The Union of Students in Ireland consists of five bodies formed from both elected members to USI and members of the affiliated Student Unions.

[edit] Officer Board

Officer Board is a Standing Committee of National Council and is composed of the elected officers of the Union. The board provides day to day leadership to the Union, produces annual plans for, and co-ordinate the work of the Union.

[edit] National Council

National Council is USI's main executive body consisting of representatives from each college and USI full time and part time officers. It is convened at least four times a year for the purpose of discussing the overall work of the national union.

[edit] Regional Conferences

Regional Conferences are held for the main purpose of electing the regional officer for the region. The regions are autonomous and discuss and debate policy for the region to co-ordinate and direct the work of the officer.

[edit] Standing Conferences

There are four standing conferences held each year with the purpose of electing the part-time officers and to discuss and formulate policy for that brief. The four conferences are: the Irish language conference; the disability rights conference; the environmental awareness conference and the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) conference.

[edit] Annual Congress

Annual Congress is USI's supreme decision making body which takes place over a 3-4 day period around Easter. All affiliated unions send a number of delegates to attend Congress. The number of delegates each CO sends depends on the number of students at their college. All student unions can submit motions and amendments for Congress.

Congress debates and votes on the various issues and motions submitted by member colleges. It also elects Officer Board for the coming year.

[edit] Notable Past Officers

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 former Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Leader Mark Durkan, Labour Party Leader & TD Eamon Gilmore, Fianna Fáil Councillor Malcolm Byrne, Labour Party Councillor, Seán Ó hArgáin, Socialist Party councillor Mick Murphy, Labour Senator Ivana Bacik former Mayor of Tuam, Colm Keaveney and Labour and ITGWU/SIPTU activist Pat Brady.

[edit] Presidents of USI

Past Presidents
Years of office	Name	College
2009-2010	Peter Mannion	National University of Ireland, Galway
2008-2009	Shane Kelly	Waterford Institute of Technology
2007-2008	Richard Morrisroe (until Oct 2007) Hamidreza Khodabakhshi	University College Cork Dublin Institute of Technology
2006-2007	Colm Hamrogue	Institute of Technology, Sligo
2005-2006	Tony McDonnell	National University of Ireland, Galway
2004-2005	Ben Archibald (N. Ireland)	Queens University Belfast Students' Union
2003-2004	Will Priestley	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	Trish Hegarty	Queens University Belfast
1986-1987	Trish Hegarty	Queens University Belfast
1985-1986	John Doyle	Waterford Regional Technical College
1984-1985	Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha	University College Dublin
1983-1984	Joe Duffy	Trinity College Dublin
1982-1983	Brendan Doris	DIT Bolton St
1981-1982	Brendan Doris	DIT Bolton St
1980-1981	Gerry Grainger	Queen's University Belfast
1979-1980	Tom Costelloe	St. Patrick's, Drumcondra
1978-1979	Peter Davies	University of Ulster
1977-1978	Eamon Gilmore	University College Galway
1976-1977	Eamon Gilmore	University College Galway
1975-1976	David Kavanagh	University College Dublin
1974-1975	Pat Brady
1973-1974	Pat Rabbitte	University College Galway
1972-1973	Pat Rabbitte	University College Galway
1971-1972	Frank Flannery
1970-1971	Richard O'Toole
1969-1970	Enter Details
1968-1969	Ciaran McKeown
1967-1968	Howard Kinlay
1966-1967	John Murray
1965-1966	Gordon Colleary
1964-1965	Gordon Colleary
1963-1964	Denys Turner
1962-1963	Enter Details
1961-1962	Noel Igoe
1960-1961	Noel Igoe
1959-1960	John Hamilton-Russell

[edit] Deputy Presidents of USI

Past Deputy Presidents
Years of office	Name	College
2009-2010	Dan O'Neill	University College Dublin
2008-2009	Dave Curran	University College Dublin
2007-2008	Vacant
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	Cian O'Callaghan
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	Anne Marie Keary	University College, Dublin
1988-1989	Garbhan Downey	University College Galway
1987-1988	Paul Cavanagh	Queen's University, Belfast
1986-1987	Sean O'hArgain	Frobel College
1985-1986	Trish Hegarty	Queens University Belfast
1984-1985	Paddy O'Donovan	Sligo RTC (Sligo IT)
1983-1984	Mark Durkan	Queens University Belfast
1982-1983	Mark Durkan	Queens University Belfast
1981-1982	Liam Whitelaw	NUU Coleraine
1980-1981	Liam Whitelaw	NUU Colraine
1979-1980	Christine Donaghy	St Mary's College, Belfast
1978-1979	John Gallagher	Maynooth University
1977-1978	Peter Davies	NUU Coleraine
1976-1977	Peter McEvoy	QUB
1975-1976	Mairtin Ó Siadhail	Carlow RTC
1974-1975	Brendan Glynn	UCG
1973-1974	Kieran Mulvey	UCD
1972-1973	Pearse Reynolds
1971-1972	Paul Tansey
1970-1971	Jim Hamilton

[edit] Officer Board 09/10

Full Time:

• President: Peter Mannion
• Deputy President: Dan O'Neill
• Education Officer: Hugh Sullivan
• Welfare Officer: Ciaran Fitzpatrick
• Equality Officer: Linda Kelly
• LGBT Rights Officer: Laura Finlay
• Eastern Area Officer: Chris Bond
• Western Area Officer: Daniel McGarrigle
• Southern Area Officer: Jono Clifford
• Northern Area Officer: Ciarnan Helferty

Part Time:

• Irish Language Officer: Aodhán Ó Deá
• Environment Officer: Kimberley Foy

As part of a restucturing motion passed by Congress 2009, there is now an Equality Campaign Working Group which consists of 4 part time officers in addition to the Equality Officer & LGBT Rights Officer. The part time officers are as follows:

• Emily Keaveney - Disability Rights Officer
• Aisling Billington - Gender Equality Officer
• Mariya Levchuk - International Students Officer
• Simone Cameron Coen - Mature Students Officer

Equality Working Group is a separate entity to USI Officerboard.

[edit] Officer Board 08/09

• President: Shane Kelly
• Deputy President: Dave Curran
• Education Officer: Bartley Rock
• Welfare Officer: Anthony Muldoon
• Equality Officer: Linda Kelly
• Eastern Area Officer: Ciara Broderick
• Western Area Officer: Peter Mannion
• Southern Area Officer: Kris Mc Elhinney
• Northern Area Officer: Katie Morgan
• LGBT Rights Officer: Rob Doyle
• Irish Language Officer: Donnacha O'Suilleabháin
• Postgraduate Officer: Enda Duffy
• Disability Rights Officer: James Barry

[edit] Officer Board 07/08

• President: Richard Morrisroe (until Oct 2007) / Hamidreza Khodabakhshi
• Education Officer: Hamidreza Khodabakhshi (until Oct 2007) / Peter Mannion
• Welfare Officer: Peadar Hayes (until Jan 2008)
• Equality Officer: Steve Conlon (until Oct 2007) / Ryan Griffin
• Eastern Area Officer: Paul Lynam
• Southern Area Officer: Katie Morrisroe (until Jan 2008)
• Northern Area Officer: Katie Morgan
• LGBT Rights Officer: Sonya Donnelly
• Environmental Awareness Officer: David Curran
• Oifigeach na Gaeilge: Louise Nic Aodbhuí

[edit] Officer Board 06/07

• President: Colm Hamrogue (Sligo IT)
• Education Officer: Bernadette Farrell(DIT)
• Welfare Officer: Kelly Mackey
• Eastern Area Officer: John McGuirk (TCD)
• Western Area Officer: Kieran O'Malley (GMIT)
• Southern Area Officer: Katie Morrisroe (UCC)
• Northern Area Officer: Colleen Dowdall(UU)
• LGBT Rights Officer: Steve Conlon(Sligo IT)
• Irish Language Officer: Ciaran Mac Fheargusa (TCD)
• Postgraduate Officer: Patrick Carroll (UCD/DIT)

[edit] Officer Board 05/06

• President: Tony McDonnell (NUI, Galway)
• Deputy President: Ruth Ní Eidhin (until Dec 2005) (TCD)
• Education Officer: Daithí Mac Sithigh(TCD)(until Dec 2005)
• Welfare Officer: Tom Lowth (TCD)
• Eastern Area Officer: Colm Doyle (IT, Tallaght)
• Western Area Officer: Roma Towey (NUI,Galway)
• Northern Area Officer: Damien Kavanagh (QUB)
• LGBT Rights Officer: Charlie Atkinson(TCD)/Sonya Donnelly
• Irish Language Officer: Aoibheann Ni Fearon(UU)(until Dec 2005)/Ciarán Mac Fhearghusa(TCD)

[edit] Officer Board 04/05

• President: Ben Archibald (QUB)
• Deputy President: Rory Ahern (TCD)
• Education Officer: Heledd Fychen (TCD)
• Welfare Officer: Layne Aston (IT, Tallaght)
• Eastern Area Officer:
• Western Area Officer: Tony Mc Donnell(Western Area Officer)
• Northern Area Officer:
• Southern Area Officer:
• LGBT Rights Officer: Emma Dunphy/John Dunne (TCD)
• Irish Language Officer:

[edit] Officer Board 03/04

• President: Will Priestly (TCD)
• Deputy President: Gareth Keogh (NCI)
• Education Officer: Brighid Breathnach (UCD)
• Welfare Officer: Glen Guilfoyle (NUI, Galway/St. Angela's)
• Equality Officer: Lyndsey Jones (DIT)
• Eastern Area Officer: Ken Kinsella (IT, Tallaght)
• Western Area Officer: Dave McCoy (GMIT)
• Southern Area Officer: JP McArdle (Carlow, IT)
• Northern Area Officer: Ben Archibald (QUB)
• LGBT Rights Officer: Tadhg O'Brien (TCD)
• Disability Awareness Officer: Mark? (DIT)
• Irish Language Officer: Eimear Nic an Bhaird (TCD)
• Environmental Awareness Officer: Joyce Power (DIT)
• Post Graduate Officer: Roisin McKeown (UCD)
• Chairperson of the Women's Rights Action Committee: Annie Gatling (TCD)

[edit] Officer Board 02/03

• President: Colm Jordan (DIT)
• Deputy President: Noel Hogan (NUI, Maynooth)
• Education Officer: Gareth Keogh
• Welfare Officer: Maureen Woods (UU)
• Equality Officer: Bernard Cantillon (UCD)
• Eastern Area Officer: Mark?
• Western Area Officer: Padraig O Duinnin (NUI, Galway)
• Southern Area Officer: Cathal ó Suilleabhain (UCC)
• Northern Area Officer: Ben Archibald (QUB)
• LGBT Rights Officer: Iain Gill (TCD)
• Womens Rights Officer: June Coghlan (All Hallow's)
• Disability Awareness Officer: Niamh Hayes (UCD)
• Irish Language Officer: Brighid Breathnach (UCD)
• Postgraduate Officer: John Mackell (QUB)
• Environmental Awareness Officer: Joyce Power DIT)

[edit] Officer Board 01/02

• President: Richard Hammond (UCC)
• Deputy President: Ross O' Donoghue
• Education Officer: Colm Jordan (DIT)
• Welfare Officer: JP Swaine (UCD)
• Equality Officer: John C. Friend Pereira (Mary, I)
• Eastern Area Officer: Noel Aungier (IT, Tallaght)
• Western Area Officer: Chris Newell (NUI, Galway)
• Southern Area Officer: Alan Bulman
• Northern Area Officer: Brian Slevin
• LGBT Rights Officer: Diane Goldthorp
• Womens Rights Officer: Eibhlin Gleeson
• Disability Awareness Officer: Joan Cullen
• Irish Language Officer: Neil
• Environmental Awareness Officer: Lorraine Rice

[edit] Officer Board 00/01

• President: Julian de Spáinn (NUI Galway)
• Deputy President: Cian O'Callaghan (UCD)
• Education Officer: Colm Jordan (DIT)
• Welfare Officer: Alison Gibney (UCD)
• Equality Officer: Rory McDaid (St. Patrick's College)
• Eastern Area Officer: Gareth Williams (IT Tallaght)
• Western Area Officer: Chris Newell (NUI Galway)
• Southern Area Officer: Richard Hammond (UCC)
• Northern Area Officer: Brian Slevin (Queens University)
• LGBT Rights Officer: Diane Goldthorp (UCD)
• Womens Rights Officer: Andrea Leahy (Americam College Dublin)
• Disability Awareness Officer: Joan Cullen (Roslyn Park College)
• Irish Language Officer: Béibhinn Ní Riagáin (NUI Galway)
• Environmental Awareness Officer: Mark Grehan (UCD)

[edit] Officer Board 99/00

   * President: Phil Madden (IT Carlow)   * Deputy President: Julian de Spáinn (NUI Galway)   * Education Officer: Ian Russell (Mary Immaculate College)   * Welfare Officer: Cian O'Callaghan (UCD)   * Equality Officer: Martin French (St. Patrick's College)   * Eastern Area Officer (Co-convenors): Gareth Williams (IT Tallaght) & Colm Jordan (DIT)   * Western Area Officer: Keith O' Grady (NUI Galway)   * Southern Area Officer: Brian Mc Kiernan (UCC)   * Northern Area Officer: Shane Whelahan (University of Ulster)   * LGBT Rights Officer: Caroline Kinsella (DIT)   * Womens Rights Officer: Emma Dowling   * Disability Awareness Officer: Joan Cullen (Roslyn Park College)   * Irish Language Officer:   * Environmental Awareness Officer: Glenn Metha (IT Tallaght) 

    * President: Phil Madden    * Deputy President: Julian de Spáinn    * Education Officer: Ian Russell    * Welfare Officer: Cian O'Callaghan    * Equality Officer: Martin French    * Eastern Area Officer (Co-convenors): Gareth Williams & Colm Jordan    * Western Area Officer: Keith O' Grady 

Officer Board 1986/1987

President: Patricia Hegarty, Queen's University Belfast Deputy President: Seán O'hArgáin, Froebel College, Dublin Education Officer: Peter Graves, College of Marketing and Design Dublin (DIT) Campaigns Officer: Nick Reilly, Athlone RTC (AIT) Union Development Officer: Paddy McPoland, Carlow RTC (Carlow IT) Women's Rights Officer: Úna Gillespie, St. Mary's College, Belfast Northern Area Convenor:

Officer Board 1985/1986

President: John Doyle, Waterford RTC (Waterford IT) Deputy President: Patricia Hegarty, Queen's University Belfast Education Officer: John Mulqueen, Trinity College, Dublin Campaigns Officer: Declan Meehan, College of Marketing and Design Dublin (DIT) Union Development Officer: Ciarán McCann, Queen's University Belfast Women's Rights Officer: Rosa Meehan, University College, Dublin Northern Area Convenor:

    * Southern Area Officer: Brian Mc Kiernan    * Northern Area Officer: Shane Whelahan    * LGBT Rights Officer: Caroline Kinsella    * Womens Rights Officer: Emma Dowling    * Disability Awareness Officer: Joan Cullen    * Irish Language Officer:    * Environmental Awareness Officer: Glen Metha 

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official site

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