Motion to Adopt a Climate Action Policy
📅 Passed: 2 Apr 2025
⏳ Expires: 2 Apr 2028
🎯 Area: Community / National Affairs / International Affairs
Council adapted a Climate Action Policy; aligning with UCD’s position as an SDG champion and global leader in sustainability. The Union is committed to hold the University accountable for its commitments in research, education, and sustainability practices, while encouraging ongoing dialogue and action to address the climate crisis within the student body.
Support for Ongoing Student Protests in Serbia
📅 Passed: 17 Mar 2025
⏳ Expires: 17 Mar 2028
🎯 Area: International Affairs
UCDSU expresses solidarity with Serbian student protesters demanding transparency, justice, and increased university funding following a fatal construction collapse. Council called on UCDSU to recognise the importance of direct democracy in the protests and the justified use of non-violent direct action.
Motion to Adopt a Union Social Class Policy
📅 Passed: 24 Mar 2025
⏳ Expires: 24 Mar 2028
🎯 Area: Education / Wellbeing / Community
Union Council adapted a Social Class Policy; setting out the Union’s commitment to tackling socioeconomic inequalities on campus and nationally. It builds on existing policy mandating universal access to higher education.
Motion to Mandate the Union on Holding the University Accountable for the Palestine Encampment Agreement
📅 Passed: 17 Feb 2025
⏳ Expires: 17 Feb 2028
🎯 Area: International Affairs
UCDSU will monitor and pressure UCD University management to fully implement the demands agreed upon following the Palestine solidarity encampment protest. Council has mandated the President and Campaigns & Engagement Officer to oversee the agreement’s implementation in line with BDS principles and to continue advocacy on University boards and committees until the agreement is fully delivered.
Renationalise Go-Ahead Bus Routes
📅 Passed: 6 Feb 2025
⏳ Expires: 6 Feb 2028
🎯 Area: Community / National Affairs / Wellbeing
UCDSU advocates for the transfer of Go-Ahead-operated bus routes back to public ownership.
Support for the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation
📅 Passed: 12 Feb 2025
⏳ Expires: 12 Feb 2028
🎯 Area: Education / Organisation / National Affairs
UCDSU supports the rights of postgraduate researchers, including recognition as workers, fair pay, and access to basic entitlements like annual and sick leave. Council has called for UCDSU to work with the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation (PWO) and the UCD PhD Society to support campaigning efforts and build student solidarity.
Selecting the Union’s Charity Partner
📅 Passed: 18 Nov 2024
⏳ Expires: 18 Nov 2027
🎯 Area: Organisation
This motion creates a formal process for Union Council—not just the Sabbatical Officers—to select the Students’ Union’s annual charity partner. It prioritises student voice, accountability, and transparency in aligning the Union’s charitable work with student values.
It mandates:
Open consultation with Class Reps and students about potential charity partners using methods like online suggestion forms, Questions on Notice, or Items for Discussion.
That only registered charities may be selected.
That charity partners be proposed for approval at the penultimate or final Council meeting of the academic year, giving incoming officers time to plan summer collaboration.
The motion ensures that charity partnerships are student-led, well-considered, and democratically approved
Universal Access to Higher Education
📅 Passed: 30 Sept 2024
⏳ Expires: 30 Sept 2027
🎯 Area: National Affairs / Education
UCDSU promotes higher education as a public good and is mandated to continued campaigning and lobbying for the full abolition of the €3,000 Student Contribution Charge, pushing for a publicly funded model of higher education. It also calls for ring-fenced Government investment to reduce student fees and assist with financial hardship. A further motion passed on 18 November 2024 commits the Union to fighting to abolish international student fees.
Union Housing Policy and Action Group
📅 Passed: 30 Sept 2024
⏳ Expires: 30 Sept 2027
🎯 Area: National Affairs / Wellbeing / Community
UCDSU has adapted a Housing Policy to guide advocacy efforts over the coming years and to establish a Housing Action Group to implement this policy.
Orientation Activities to Promote SU Engagement
📅 Passed: 15 Apr 2024
⏳ Expires: 15 Apr 2027
🎯 Area: Organisation / Community
UCDSU’s involvement during Orientation and early trimester activities should aim to promote integration and awareness of Union services among new students, through info leaflets, event calendars, meet-and-greets, and other engaging outreach initiatives.
Adoption of the Irish Language Policy (Polasaí Gaeilge)
📅 Passed: 15 Apr 2024
⏳ Expires: 15 Apr 2027
🎯 Area: Organisation / Community
UCDSU has formally adapted its first ever Polasaí Gaeilge (Irish Language Policy), This sets out how the Union is to strengthen its use and responsibility for the Irish language, acknowledging the constitutional importance of Irish and the desire among Irish-speaking students for greater visibility and integration on campus.
Monitoring the Replacement for Direct Provision
📅 Passed: 4 Mar 2024
⏳ Expires: 4 Mar 2027
🎯 Area: National Affairs
Following UCDSU’s 2021 stance to boycott Direct Provision, UCDSU Council called for continued monitoring of the International Protection Support Service that is replacing it. UCDSU supports a new system that upholds humane treatment, and mandates collaboration with like-minded organisations to advocate for refugees’ rights.
Reports on Motions in the Policy Book
📅 Passed: 4 Mar 2024
⏳ Expires: 4 Mar 2027
🎯 Area: Organisation
To improve accountability and transparency, UCDSU Council mandates that all sabbatical officers to provide updates on progress made toward fulfilling motions in the policy book as part of their regular Union Council reports. These updates should include any barriers to implementation where relevant.
International Student Information Session
📅 Passed: 20 Feb 2024
⏳ Expires: 20 Feb 2027
🎯 Area: Community
Students ask that the SU host an annual autumn information session specifically for international students, covering immigration, taxes, healthcare, transport, communication, cultural adaptation, and financial literacy. It also recommends the session be made available online and expanded to include resources on securing accommodation in Dublin.
Palestinian Solidarity
📅 Passed: 6 Nov 2023
⏳ Expires: 6 Nov 2026
🎯 Area: National Affairs
UCDSU stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and calls for an immediate ceasefire and end to violence in Gaza. The students’ union is mandated to provide continued support for Palestine Awareness Week on campus, and the BDS campaign globally.
Smurfit Community Survey
📅 Passed: 16 Oct 2023
⏳ Expires: 16 Oct 2026
🎯 Area: Community
The Union shall run an annual Smurfit Community Survey to track and improve the student experience on the Smurfit Graduate Business School campus.
It follows concerns with facilities, transport, clubs, and campus life, and ensures the Union continues to push for lasting change in the campus disconnected from the main Belfield campus.
Supporting Drug Decriminalisation and Cannabis Legalisation
📅 Passed: 17 Apr 2023
⏳ Expires: 17 Apr 2026
🎯 Area: National Affairs
Following strong student support in a consultative referendum, this motion mandates the SU to campaign for a health-based approach to drug use, advocating for the decriminalisation of all drugs and the legalisation of cannabis for both recreational and medical purposes.
Supporting the Campaign Against Greystar Development
📅 Passed: 17 Apr 2023
⏳ Expires: 17 Apr 2026
🎯 Area: National Affairs
UCDSU aligned with local resistance to a Build to Rent development in Monkstown led by Greystar. The motion supports environmental and housing justice concerns, opposes corporate-led student housing, and calls for the SU to engage directly with this and similar community-led campaigns.
Improving Accessibility Information for Events
📅 Passed: 17 Apr 2023
⏳ Expires: 17 Apr 2026
🎯 Area: Community
To improve inclusion, students have mandated that event listings must include clear accessibility details such as wheelchair access, seating arrangements, and sound levels—so all students can make informed decisions about their participation.
Building a Strategic Future for UCDSU
📅 Passed: 17 Apr 2023
⏳ Expires: 17 Apr 2026
🎯 Area: Organisation
UCDSU has been directed to establish and implement a long-term strategic plan, recognising the importance of continuity across Executive teams.