A lack of attendees meant that Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) council failed to make quorum tonight, marking the second consecutive meeting in which the union’s foremost decision-making body faced such issues.
Because less than a third of council members were present at the beginning of the meeting, it could not be deemed an official meeting and members were unable to vote on motions. Stephen Sheil, the Chair of the union’s Electoral Commission, said the meeting would instead be considered a “town hall” meeting.
Though the union occasionally loses quorum by the end of council meetings, which can run on for hours, it is rare that the council does not have enough members present to begin its meetings.
The absence of quorum meant TCDSU could not vote on motions to introduce an Irish-language committee, proposed by Oifigeach na Gaeilge Cúnla Morris, as well as the introduction of crossover documents for school convenors, proposed by TCDCSU Engineering, Mathematics and Science Faculty Convenor Sally Anne McCarthy. The union was also unable to vote for the election of a new part-time sports officer.
At the union’s last council, a discussion item brought by TCDSU Communications and Marketing Officer Paraic McLean, aimed at gauging opinion on the removal of the union’s Irish-language email, was met with a spirited response from members of council, and McLean said he would abandon the idea.
The meeting subsequently lost quorum and the council, as a result, did not vote on a campaign against the handover of the New Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent’s Hospital group, with the motion becoming a discussion item instead.
