Hugh McInerney has pulled out of the race for Vice President for Dublin of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), having opted instead to accept an offer for a masters programme in the University of Groningen.
McInerney is the current Ents Officer for Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU).
In an email statement to The University Times this evening, he said: “I am withdrawing my name for the USI election for Vice President for Dublin as I have received an offer for my dream masters in the Netherlands. I only received my acceptance letter two days ago, and I wasn’t expecting it whatsoever.”
“After much debate”, McInerney said, “I have decided that the students of the Dublin region deserve a fully committed and enthusiastic officer and having received this offer I would be distracted and wondering if I’d made the right choice, and this would detract from my work if elected”.
“The two remaining candidates for the Dublin region are both fantastic and no matter what happens the Dublin region will be in safe hands! The fact I have to go to the Netherlands speaks to the reasons I ran; while the course I am now enrolled in cost me just over €2000, the exact same course in Dublin costs €8000.”
He concluded: “I still believe this country needs to change to fully serve its students and young people, and although I am withdrawing from the race to pursue my masters I will continue to lobby and campaign for change.”
Two senior TCDSU members are still in the running for executive positions in USI – Megan O’Connor, the union’s Education Officer, is running for Vice President for Academic Affairs. Former Oifigeach na Gaeilge Muireann Nic Corcráin is contesting the election for Leas Uachtarán don Gaeilge, or Vice President for the Irish Language.
TCDSU is holding hustings this evening ahead of a vote on who the union will back in the USI elections, which will take place at USI Congress next month.
Earlier this week, The University Times reported that the presidential race would be uncontested after Marie Lyons removed herself from the ballot.
Clare Austick, USI’s Vice President for Welfare, will contest the election unopposed.
