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Gaeilge Initiative referendum passes by landslide 90% majority TCDSU will now establish a fulltime Irish language officer along with the six other sabbatical roles Ellen Kenny Deputy Editor
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HE GAEILGE I N I T I A T I V E REFERENDUM HAS PASSED WITH AN O V E RW H E L M I N G 90% majority, creating a full-time Irish language officer (Oifigeach na Gaeilge) and funding for other College bodies to boost Irish on campus. 89.56% of the 1,590 voters supported the introduction of the Gaeilge Initiative, the largest majority a referendum result has seen in recent years. A €4 levy will be introduced from the next academic year, creating a fund of up to approximately €80,000 each year for the initiative. TCDSU will receive up to 70% of funding from the Gaeilge Initiative, while the Central Societies Committee (CSC) will receive up to 15% of funding to increase Irish visibility in College societies. Trinity Sports Union will receive up to 10% of funding and Trinity Publications, the body responsible for funding several College publications, will receive up to 5% of funds. TCDSU will now grant Irish official language status in its
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constitution and introduce a sabbatical Oifigeach na Gaeilge, dissolving the current part-time role. Speaking on the success of the referendum, TCDSU Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Pádraig Mac Brádaigh now the last person to ever hold the position as a part-time role, thanked everyone who took part in the YesGaeilgeTCD campaign. “As an Irish speaker who speaks Irish every day as a language of choice, I am happy that there is a new infrastructure in the College to provide my language rights,” he said. Several student unions in Ireland currently have an Irish language officer, including Union of Students Ireland (USI) and the University of Galway Students’ Union. The referendum saw the highest turnout for any union referendum in six years. The 2018 Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) mandate referendum saw a total 2,050 votes cast and passed with a 64.5% majority. This referendum was also the first major vote to take place in person since the Covid-19 pandemic forced the union to hold elections online. A trial of paper ballots took place earlier this academic year with class representative elections. The union’s first Oifigeach na Gaeilge will be elected along with the other sabbatical officers in the upcoming elections. Following the announcement of the referendum results, nominations for the new role are now open to all union members and will close next Friday. The other sabbatical election candidates were also announced on Friday. Campaigning for sabbatical elections will begin Monday, February 19, with the Dining Hall hustings.
Vol. 70, Issue 6
14 candidates to contest TCDSU sabbatical elections
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RINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN STUDENTS’ UNION (TCDSU) HAS ANNOUNCED 14 STUDENTS WILL run in the upcoming sabbatical elections, the highest number of candidates in recent years. Of the six races, only one – the Entertainments Officer election – will be run uncontested, with only one candidate running. Two candidates are running in each of the races for TCDSU President, Education Officer, and Editor of the University Times. Three candidates are running in the election for Welfare & Equality Officer, with four running in the Communication & Marketing Officer race. The announcement of the candidates was made this evening on the steps of House 6 by TCDSU Electoral Commission (EC) Chair Conor Casey. President Ralph Balfe is currently completing a masters in Psychoanalytic Studies. He Continued on page 2>>
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Brian Cox visits LawSoc
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Emmy-winning actor and Succession patriarch Brian Cox was awardred the Praeses Elit award by LawSoc on Friday, February 2. Photo by Alex Coghlan for LawSoc. Read more on page 8 and 9
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