Union of Students Ireland (USI) Congress takes position of no-confidence in the Government

The Union of Students Ireland (USI) has voted to take a position of no-confidence in the Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Greens government and to mandate the USI to advise its members to vote against the government.

This happened during the USI annual Congress in Sligo from April 3rd to April 6th.

Congress is USI’s main policy-making body and is tasked to debate various motions that are submitted on behalf of Students’ Unions in the Republic of Ireland and the North of Ireland. We have attached the full text of the motion as an annex to this press release.

This motion “No Confidence in Government” was tabled by the Trinity College Dublin Students Union (TCDSU) President-elect, László Molnárfi alongside Dublin City University Students Union (DCUSU) Vice-President for Community and Citizenship Nathan Murphy.

It was submitted to Congress as an emergency motion by DCUSU and TCDSU under the delegation leadership of DCUSU President Thomas O’Dowd and TCDSU President Gabi Fullam respectively.

The motion was adopted unanimously with no opposition.

In his speech to the Congress floor, László Molnárfi said:

“Congress, before you, is a historic motion.

“This government has done undeniable harm to our communities.

“This is not by accident, or by incompetence.

“The system is working exactly as it is intended to.

2They follow a neoliberal capitalist economic policy, and represent big capital, vulture funds and corporations, not the people, our communities and workers.

“Their policies have seen homelessness grow to unprecedented levels during their time in government, a failing healthcare system, a housing crisis, inaccessible education – and the suffering of so many people.

“They are committing social murder, by refusing to provide people with the basic necessities – to have a home, enough money to buy groceries and live in financial security.

“If we believe that this is because they don’t know our issues, or that they have not been lobbied enough, then we are politically immature and naive.

“It is not that they do not know. It is that they do not care.

“The time for respectability, lobbying and sitting down with the Ministers for a cup of coffee is over.

“This government deserves to be called out at every possible occasion, wherever they go.

“Their representatives deserve to be held accountable in a public way, exposed, shamed and embarrassed in the press.

“Being neutral and lobbying them is not enough – we must, at the next general election, boot them out of power, remove them from their positions, every single last one of them.

“Congress, by voting for this motion, we are making our stance explicitly. We are standing up for students and workers across the country, and we are saying no to this government.

“This is a historic motion because the USI has never had a motion of no confidence in a government. Congress, let’s make history and boot this government out!”

In a Tweet following the passing of the motion, Nathan Murphy said “Happy to speak on this and see the overwhelming support. Students need a change in government.”

The USI says it is now mandated to publicly express a position of no-confidence in the government and to advise its membership to vote against the government.