Coiste Gnó (National Student Executive)
The Coiste Gnó acts on behalf of the ISSU on a daily basis and is the group of young people who publicly represent the organisation.
The Coiste Gnó is elected annually at An Chomhdháil Bhliaintiúl (Annual Assembly), and each holds an individual role.
The Coiste Gnó meet regularly and record the work they complete each month in meeting minutes and MEOWs (mONTHLY eVALUATIONS OF WORK). THESE ARE CALLED cOISTE gNÓ UPDATES.
The roles of the Coiste Gnó include;
Uachtarán
Shari Irfan
Pronouns: He/Him - Sé/É
Contact: president@issu.ie
Twitter: @ISSU_President
Leas-Uachtarán
Mohammad Naeem
Dia daoibh, my name is Mohammad Naeem and this year I elected as the Leas-Uachtaran for the Coiste Gnó 23/24. I’m 18 years old and I have recently completed my Leaving Certificate. This is my third year on the Coiste Gnó, I have sat two terms as the Regional Liaison and Support Officer. I have the overall responsibility for the organisation and coordination of the internal work of the union. I play a key role in the ISSU grassroots development alongside the RLSO. I assist the Uachtaran with their day to day work and assist them in supporting the Coiste Gnó. I am delighted that students elected me as their Leas-Uachtaran and I’m looking forward to working with the CG, ROB and students.
I will work to promote the grassroots engagement of the union, ensuring that the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) remains accessible to all students. Building on my experience as the RLSO for the past two years, I understand the importance of engaging with students on the ground. One of my key responsibilities as Leas-Uachtarán will be to organise significant events such as An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil.
I will ensure that these events are well-organised, engaging, and effectively promote the goals and objectives of the ISSU. Additionally, I will prioritise the planning of Coiste Gnó meetings, ensuring they are well-structured and that the minutes produced are of a high standard. Supporting officer training and development will be another crucial aspect of my role.
I will collaborate with other officers to design and implement comprehensive training and upskilling resources tailored to the different branches of the union. I will work closely with the Uachtarán to organise team bonding activities and provide support with their day-to-day responsibilities. By fostering a strong and positive relationship among officers, we can create an environment where the Coiste Gnó is well-prepared to achieve the goals of the ISSU and effectively serve the needs of its members.
I will conduct thorough reviews of the ISSU's constitution, membership engagement strategies, and available resources. It is crucial to ensure that these policies and resources remain up-to-date and effective in guiding the growth and development of our organisation.
Pronouns: He/Him - Sé/É
Contact: deputy@issu.ie
Regional liaison & support officer
Education Officer
Heather Doyle
Dia Dhaoibh!! My name is Heather Doyle and I am your Education Officer on the Coiste Gnó na nDaltaí 2023/2024. I am a 16 year old student going into 5th year from the lovely county of Tipperary!
I've had a passion for activism since primary school where I first sat on a student council. I've been involved with ISSU since 2021 and since then I have been a School Rep, Regional Officer and I was on the Coiste Gnó last year too!
The Education Officers role is very much policy and representative based. This means a lot of my time will be attending Department of Education meetings, writing stances and policies for us to use when lobbying officials, and consulting with you through surveys throughout the year. Two key issues I want to work on this term are firstly, progressing Senior Cycle Redevelopment, ensuring students are at the forefront of these discussions and plans and secondly, designing a survey and drafting a report on TY reform so we can make TY an accessible programme to all students across the country.
I want to engage with students as much as possible so please email education@issu.ie anytime!
Pronouns: She/Her - Sí/Í
Contact: education@issu.ie
Louisa Tyrrell
Dia dhaoibh! Labhaoise Tirial is ainm dom agus táim an tOifigeach Ceangail agus Tacaíochta Réigiúnach don an Coiste Gnó 23/24!
Hi, my name is Louisa Tyrrell and I’m your Regional Liaison and Support Officer (RLSO) on the Coiste Gnó 23/24! I’m 16, from the beautiful county Wicklow and am going into fifth year.
As RLSO it is my job to coordinate and support the Regional Officer Body, (ROB). I will be assisting your regional officers on any projects they run during their term, organising Regional Councils, engaging with school reps and much more. During my term I hope to work on ensuring we are engaging with all students especially those in gaelcholáistí and ‘get involved’ students, I will also be working on creating student council resources and assisting other Coiste members with this.
If you are looking to get in touch with your regional officers you can find all of their contact details under the Regional Officer tab of the ‘About’ section of the website, feel free to email myself either if you need a hand. Slán!
Pronouns:
Contact: rlso@issu.ie
Disability Officer
Welfare Officer
Mairín Harding
Hello! My name is Máirín Harding and I am 16 years old heading into the ever-so-slightly 6th year!
I am from the beautiful County Mayo and I'm proud to call the rural town of Belmullet my home! I study at St Brendans College and that is where my activism journey began way back when! Understandably enough, I have a true passion for all things rural inclusion, welfare and sustainability, but of course on a national level I am rearing to go to represent, uplift and defend YOUR voice and opinions in the remit of welfare. I have a lot of hobbies outside of my activism, mainly sports such as playing GAA, golf and soccer, but I also love to play the guitar to wind down daily. I try to dabble in reading too, but sometimes I have the attention spam of a tiktok so it's difficult!
Throughout my term I hope to mainly work on things such as RSE & other curriculum reform, period justice, mental health accessibility for students & youth and I also want to hear from YOU, to find out the most pressing issues that are in schools across the country, because after all, I was elected by you, therefore I want to serve you to the best of my ability throughout my term! I'm very much looking forward to everything that comes with this role and responsibility, yes I am nervous but that just goes to show how much I care! I am truly honoured to serve as your welfare officer for the next year, and I am chomping at the bit to get started!!!
Don't ever shy away from getting in touch, whether thats to learn more about anything I'm up to, or simply just to have a chat! My inbox is always open! Grá mhór, Máirín Nic Áirdín<3
Pronouns: She/Her - Sí/Í
Contact: welfare@issu.ie
TBC
The new ISSU Disability Officer will announced shortly.
Pronouns:
Contact: disability@issu.ie
Equality Officer
Bel Nabulele
Hello everyone, My name is Bel Nabulele, I am 16 years old, I am from Dublin and I am your Equality Officer for the 2023/2024 academic year.
There are a number of things I would like to work on over my term included but definitely not limited to advocating for LGBT students and students from a diverse background, work on RSE reform, engage with students from the Traveller community, work on creating relationships with equality based organisations within Ireland as well as strengthening the relationships our union already has, consulting students around the country, promote gender equality and to continue working on period poverty. Most importantly I would like to work with students to ensure that all of my work is what the students want.
As equality officer I am really looking forward to getting down to work to represent the views of second-level students. I hope to consult students regularly throughout my term, so feel free to get in contact with me! I'd like to know what issues you are facing in school. I have my own experiences with discrimination and as a second level student but everyone is different so as much as I'd like to solve problems that I've identified myself I really want to know what you think, what you are facing, and support the students as much as I can.
Pronouns: She/They - Sí/Siad
Contact: equality@issu.ie
International Officer
Iffah Rahmat
Hi everyone! My name is Iffah Rahmat and I am your international officer for the Coiste Gnó 23/24. I am a 16 year old sixth year who lives in County Roscommon!
As ISSU’s second person of colour and first hijabi to have the role of International Officer, it is important to me that international and migrant students or students who lie in underrepresented minorities feel included and empowered in all aspects!
As my role of International Officer, I hope to represent migrant and international students, giving them a voice to make them feel heard and welcomed. During my term, I am looking forward to representing ISSU abroad, I will also work closely alongside OBESSU and other international student unions!
Pronouns: She/Her- Sí/Í
Contact: international@issu.ie
Communications Officer
Leo Galvin
Dia dhaoibh, my name is Leo Galvin. I am 17 years old and live in County Dublin.
I’m heading into sixth year and I am full of ambition to develop our union’s communications to be as good as it can be!! I first got involved in the ISSU in the Digital Communications Working Group, from there I became the Dublin North Regional Officer and I’m proud to be your Communications officer for 2023 to 2024.
As Communications Officer I will be supporting officers throughout the year through our social media and this website! I’ll be helping officers create campaigns and working with students accross the regions on improving our communications.
Keep an eye out on our Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok and website for all the opportunities and work we’re getting up to.
Reach out to me anytime, Leo.
Pronouns: He/Him - Sé/É
Contact: communications@issu.ie
Oifigeach na Gaeilge
Eimear Nic Dhonnchadha
Dia dhaoibh! Is mise Eimear, agus táim sé bliana déag d’aois. Is as croílár Gaeltacht Chonamara dom, baile beag darbh ainm An Cheathrú Rua.
Chaith mé cúpla bliain i gComhairle na nÓg, agus bhí mé mar bhall den Chomhairle Náisiúnta ar son chontae na Gaillimhe. Tá píosaí cainte déanta agam in san Seanad agus i dTeach Laighean faoin Ghaeilge, an tábhacht atá leis agus na deacrachtaí a bhaineann leis sa gcóras oideachais.
Tá go leor smaointe agam maidir le cén chaoi an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn in san Aontas, agus i scoileanna fud fad na tíre, tá go leor moltaí agam freisin chun feabhas a chur ar an Ghaeilge san gcóras Oideachais.
Is tnúth go mór liom a bheith ag obair libh!
Pronouns: Sí/Í - She/Her
Contact: gaeilge@issu.ie
Twitter: @ISSU_Gaeilge
Uachtarán Oinigh
Sustainability Officer
Róisín Myers
Pronouns: She/Her - Sí/Í
Contact: sustainability@issu.ie
Caitlin Faye Maniti
Pronouns: She/Her - Sí/Í
Contact: honorary@issu.ie