Commissions
The Commissions of the Students’ Union have an important role in overseeing and monitoring all aspects of the Union’s activities. They oversee everything from the actions of the Sabbatical Officers on Union policy and mandate to the conduct of the elections.
The members of the Commissions are elected for the academic year at the last Council of the previous academic year. No voting member of these bodies may hold any other position in the Union and may not run for Sabbatical Officer for the year that they took office. This is to ensure fairness in the elections. Neither of the members of these bodies have a vote in Council.
The members of these bodies remain neutral in debate and anything that is presented by them and any actions they take are factual in nature and non-biased. These bodies work together to further their aims and defer to each other if necessary.
The Electoral Commission
The EC is here to ensure that all motions put to Council and the conduct of the elections that the Union runs are in line with the instructions laid out in the SU Constitution. If any member of the Union requires an interpretation of the Constitution, then this is the job of the EC to do.
Council is organised by the EC and everything that goes on in Council is supervised by the EC. The Chair of the EC is also the Chair of Council and she ensures the proper running of SU Council.
The EC, as the name implies, has the task of organising and running all elections in the SU, from Class Rep elections to the Sabbatical Officer elections. The EC decide the rules for these elections and make sure that all candidates follow those rules. They make sure the elections are fair and unbiased, and to that end, have the power to admonish, fine and even, exclude a candidate.
The EC has members that hold their positions for both two years and one year.
Jill Harpur – Chair of the Electoral Commission
My name is Jill Harpur. I am currently the Chair of the SU Electoral Commission and of the SU Council. The EC, along with Dan Ferrick, the Education Officer, is in charge of making sure that the elections are run as smoothly and as fairly as possible, both for the candidates themselves as well as the voting body of students. As such, my impartiality shall shine as brightly as my hair all across campus.
As Chair of Council, I make sure that the Council isn't overly tedious or shouty-screamy and I try to ensure that nobody needs counselling afterwards. I'm working on growing the additional legs required for true chairing but am getting discouraged by my lack of progress thus far. Never fear! This Chair shall lurch resolutely towards all manner of resolutions!
Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about what goes on in the mysterious cult of the SU or any of the elections happening this year, or indeed you have any theories on what is a Chair. Have a fantastic year and do get involved!
Email: chair@tcdsu.org
Members of the Electoral Commission
Ciara Coughlan
Ellen Hanly
Tom Leahy
Darren O'Gorman
Cathal Ormond
Ollie Wray
The Oversight Commission
The OC is tasked with making sure that any policy that the Union adopts is followed up on by the Officers responsible. The OC compiles all of the policy from mandates and referendum, with the help of the Education Officer and can then investigate as to whether this policy has been acted upon.
The OC may, at the request, of any student in Trinity, investigate whether an Officer has fulfilled his or her duties and bring that report to Council. All investigations are impartial and fair and the facts are brought to Council for Class Reps to see.
The OC also decides as to whether any policy conflicts with policy already in existence. The Chair of the OC is the Secretary to Council and can make provisional rulings on policy if required.
There are three members of the Commission. They can attend Union meetings and meet with Officers when necessary to ensure that the Union is doing its job properly. The Students’ Union strives to be transparent, and the work of the OC is just one of the attempts at this.
Shauna Watson – Chair of the Oversight Commission
Hi guys! My name is Shauna Watson and I'm the Secretary to SU council and Chair of the Oversight Commission.
As Secretary to council, I assist the Education Officer in planning Council meetings and inform members of when they take place. I take minutes at council and distribute them with all other relevant documents prior to the following council. I handle the submission of items for discussion and motions which - if passed - become SU policy.
As chair of the OC, we deal with complaints against members of council. Complaints are submitted by members of the Union against a member of council they believed to have breached their constitutional requirements. I also manage the SU's policy manual and ensure all officers do what Council has mandated them to do. It's a role I take quite seriously.
Email: secretary@tcdsu.org
Members of the Oversight Commission
Susan Carney
Ella Cullen