Do TU Dublin students have confidence in the current Irish Government?

by Jason Quigley

TIME FOR CHANGE

TU Dublin Students’ Union (TU Dublin SU) Student Council voted in favour to trigger a plebiscite during the November 16, meeting in Bolton Street.

A Plebiscite is a public vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question that can influence the direction and policy of the Students’ Union.

The question that will be asked to all TU Dublin students is:

Do you have confidence in the current Irish Government (The 33rd Government of Ireland)?

Voting will take place from March 19th – 21st and will be open to all registered students of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin).

If the majority of students vote YES, this will form the stance of the Union that TU Dublin students do have confidence in the current Irish Government (The 33rd Government of Ireland) for as long as the 33rd Government of Ireland remains in power.

If the majority of students vote NO, this will form the stance of the Union that TU Dublin students do not have confidence in the current Irish Government (The 33rd Government of Ireland) for as long as the 33rd Government of Ireland remains in power.

Speaking with TU Dublin students this week, there have been signs of support towards the plebiscite vote with some describing it as ‘significant’.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

TU Dublin student, Alex Keegan believes that the majority of students do not have confidence in the current Irish Government. However, he does believe that they have made improvements. Alex went on to say, “While they do deliver in some areas and are progressive, it seems to be papering over the cracks and tip toeing around essential problems that affect the majority of the college population.”

Alex said, “while the lowering of student fees and improvements of grants is a positive step forward from the government - there has been crying calls for accommodation for years which have fallen on deaf ears. I would say there's a lot more room for improvement.”

Another TU Dublin student, Doireann Moroney accepts that the vote is ‘essential’ and ‘much needed’ in these current times. “They're dealing with the housing crisis terribly and the employment crisis. I’ve heard that many people are currently struggling to secure long-term employment.”

Doireann also believes that more money needs to be allocated for funding more accommodation hubs, buses, or other means of transport to colleges to make it easier.

Conor Hylands, science student at TU Dublin voiced his concern saying with the current government. “Without question, they are totally out of touch with ordinary people and especially college students. We have been calling about the serious lack of accommodation for months, but nothing has changed or will under this leadership,” he concluded.

FAILED TO DELIVER

Brian Jordan, (SU President) stated that it is the view of the Student Council that the Irish Government has failed to deliver on housing, prevent the worsening homelessness crisis, prevent rising anti-migrant rhetoric, climate crisis, Transgender and Irish Healthcare.

Jordan said, “it is our view that successive policies of the 33rd Government of Ireland have damaged the Irish third-level sector, have failed to meet most of the demands of Students’ Unions across Ireland, have failed to provide sufficient on-site student accommodation for students (or any, in the case of TU Dublin students), have failed to provide fair pay for PhD students, and have forced students to work excessive hours just to pay for inadequate and often precarious living situations.”

“If I’m being frank, the 33rd Government of Ireland does not care about the needs of students, because it does not have to; the voter turnout for young people (18-23), which make up the majority of higher-education students, is significantly lower than that of the general population. But this can change. If students realise just how precarious the current Government’s situation is, they will vote. They will take action and make sure that the student voice has a monumental effect on national elections. If all 300,000+ students (within USI alone) voted, we could define the next Government,” he concluded.

TU Dublin students are encouraged to come out and use their vote on election day this coming March 19 – 21st, 2024.

On polling days, students must show their student card or Photo ID to collect their ballot paper. Polling stations are in visible locations in each campus.

For easy identification, the plebiscite ballot paper is green in colour.

Students are asked to mark an X on either the 'YES' or 'NO' options to record their preference.

For more information on the upcoming plebiscite, visit here.