The Irish Times National Debating Championship is a debating competition for students in higher education in Ireland . It has been run since 1960, sponsored by The Irish Times . While most participants represent institutions in the Republic of Ireland , institutions in Northern Ireland are also eligible.
31-577: The Union of Students in Ireland approached The Irish Times in 1960 to secure sponsorship for an Irish equivalent of the Observer Mace , a debating competition started in Britain in 1954. The "Debating Union of Ireland" was formed for a time, but later The Irish Times would appoint a student convenor each year, often a previous year's winner. Until the 1970s, the best teams and individual went on to compete in
62-704: A its National Council, comprising representatives from each member organisation. Members of the executive team of USI serve a one-year term beginning on 1 July. As of the 2023 Annual Congress, the national president was Chris Clifford, former president of the MTU Kerry Students' Union. A number of past officers of USI have gone on to prominent positions within Irish society. Past USI presidents include former Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore , former Chief Justice John L. Murray (1966/67), and broadcaster Joe Duffy (1983–84). In Northern Ireland , USI jointly operates NUS-USI with
93-615: A number of Colleges, culminating in a term as Education Officer in UCD Students' Union , where she was the first full-time female officer in the Students' Union. Eugene Murray, editor of Today Tonight and later head of TV Current Affairs with RTÉ was President of TCD SU in 1971. In 2020 the deputy president of the USI Michelle Byrne resigned following undercover reporting by a right wing student publication 'The Burkean'. In March 2020
124-690: A period, and barrister, broadcaster and GAA personality Joe Brolly was a member of the Students Union Executive in TCD. Nick Ross was deputy president at Queen's Students' Union, Ryan Tubridy was involved in UCD Students' Union, Morning Ireland presenter Aine Lawlor was president of the Students Union in TCD as was fellow RTÉ journalist and presenter Mark Little , while broadcaster and journalist Mary Raftery held Students' Union positions in
155-509: Is convened on a monthly to six-weekly basis. The Executive Team is a standing committee of the national council and is composed of the elected officers of the union. The team provides day-to-day leadership to USI, produces annual plans for, and co-ordinates, its work. There are two main non-political operational bodies within USI: the steering and elections committee and the finance committee. The steering and elections committee manages elections and
186-426: Is its ultimate decision-making body and takes place over a 4-day period around Easter. Affiliated unions send a number of delegates based on the number of students registered in the college to which the union is affiliation to attend congress. All students' unions can submit motions and amendments at the congress. Congress debates and votes on the various issues and motions submitted by member colleges. It also elects
217-459: Is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland . Founded in 1959, USI represents more than 374,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland. Its mission is to work for rights of students and a fair and equal third-level education system in Ireland. The Union's ultimate governing body is its Annual Congress, and its executive authority is vested in
248-801: The 12th Seanad , and later Head of Libraries of the European Commission . Other well-known former winners include broadcasters Anthony Clare , Henry Kelly , Derek Davis , Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh, and Marian Finucane ; comedian Dara Ó Briain ; and writers Eamonn McCann , Gerry Stembridge , Kevin Cahill . The losing finalists in 1966 included future Presidents Mary Robinson and Michael D. Higgins . Future Tánaiste Mary Harney and Minister Mary Hanafin also appeared as finalists. Union of Students in Ireland The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) ( Irish : Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn )
279-526: The National Union of Students of the United Kingdom , with students being members of both national unions. USI is a member of European Students' Union , was formerly a member of EURODOC and has provided officer-holders in both organisations. The Union of Students in Ireland is an unincorporated body, organised by the affiliated Students' Unions and governed by a constitution. The USI's annual congress
310-481: The Agricultural Panel. Patricia Hegarty ( Trish Hegarty ) was elected as the first woman president of USI in 1986 before going on to become an Irish Times and BBC journalist. Political strategist Frank Flannery , Cambridge University and Yale Professor Denys Turner and barristers Karen Quinliven QC, Grainne McMorrow SC and Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC all served as president, while SDLP Leader Mark Durkan
341-747: The Environment Alex Attwood MLA (President of the Students' Union in Queen's University Belfast ), former Minister Séamus Brennan TD (Secretary of the Students' Union in UCG), Labour Senator Ivana Bacik (President of the Students' Union in TCD), Independent Senator Rónán Mullen (President of the Students Union in UCG), Socialist Party TD Clare Daly (President of the Students Union in Dublin City University ), Jim Allister MLA (unsuccessful candidate for
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#1732855366703372-456: The Irish Debate", sponsored by The Irish Times and Aer Lingus , to make the tour annual. The tour is now organised by the U.S. National Parliamentary Debate Association . In 2010, a special celebration marked the debate's 50th anniversary. The competition is generally considered the most prestigious in Ireland, due in part to the additional media attention provided by its sponsor, but also
403-544: The Presidency of QUBSU), Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue (Vice President of the Students' Union in UCD and unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of USI) and Senator Averil Power (President of the Students' Union in TCD). While Averil Power was president, current Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton was active in the USI, although she never held elected office herself. Paul Murphy MEP
434-688: The Sallins Train Robbery , Osgur Breatnach, was a member of the Students' Representative Council of UCDSU. Irish Ambassador to the United Kingdom Dan Mulhall was deputy president of the Students Union in University College Cork . Aviation Regulator Cathal Guiomard and Central Bank of Ireland Commissioner Neil Whorisky were both Presidents of UCGSU. Sailing personality Enda O'Coineen was sports officer on UCG's Union Executive, and debt relief activist and campaigner David Hall
465-577: The Students Union in UCD and later Deputy President of USI. Other figures that have been involved in the student movement but did not hold elected positions in USI include the ninth President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins (President of the Students' Union in National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway), Supreme Court Justice Adrian Hardiman (President of the Students' Union in University College Dublin ), Stormont Minister for
496-501: The close of poll for the 13th Seanad in 1973. There are a total of 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels , 6 were elected from two university constituencies and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach . The following table shows the composition by party when the 12th Seanad first met on 5 November 1969. On 5 November 1969, Michael Yeats ( FF ) was proposed for
527-410: The competition is now unique in third-level debating, combining team and individual roles. The first round consists solely of team entrants, from which both teams and individuals progress, thus creating subsequent rounds featuring both. Individuals may be selected from a team at any stage of the competition, including to win the competition at the final stage. The winning individual cannot be selected from
558-423: The debate aspect of Congress. Members are elected from among former members of USI. The chair of National Council is usually drawn from this committee. The finance committee is elected to oversee the finances of the organisation and support the development of systems in the areas of commercial, financial and HR management. Chief Justice John L. Murray was USI president in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held
589-548: The deputy president of the Union of Students of Ireland Michelle Byrne resigned after an undercover investigation by the student magazine "The Burkean". 12th Seanad The 12th Seanad was in office from 1969 to 1973. An election to Seanad Éireann , the Senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 1969 general election to the 19th Dáil . The senators served until
620-539: The final of the Observer Mace. (The Mace no longer has an individual competition.) In 1979, Gary Holbrook of Metropolitan State College of Denver was on sabbatical at Trinity College Dublin and was impressed with the debate. In 1980, he persuaded Coors Brewers to sponsor a debate tour of U.S. colleges for the winning team and individual speakers. The Irish were struck there by the very different approach of American debaters. Holbrook subsequently organised "Friends of
651-712: The legal field include Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland Donal O'Donnell , Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman , former Managing Partner and Chairman of Arthur Cox (law firm) Eugene McCague, High Court of Ireland judges David Holland (judge) and Cian Ferriter , Senior Counsels Paul Anthony McDermott , Rossa Fanning, John O'Donnell, Dermot Gleeson, Aidan Browne, and Gregory Murphy, King's Counsel at Doughty Street Chambers , Caoilfhionn Gallagher , professors Conor Gearty , Kieran Healy and Charles Lysaght , and Circuit Court judges Esmond Smyth, Kevin O'Higgins, and Brian Curtin . James Connolly, winner in 1974,
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#1732855366703682-418: The officer board for the coming year. The national council is USI's executive body, consisting of one representative from each member organisation and USI's full-time and part-time officers. It is convened at least four times a year for the purpose of directing the overall work of the national union, amending the schedules to the constitution and determining interim policies responsive to events. In practice it
713-454: The position of Cathaoirleach by Thomas Mullins (FF) and seconded by John J. Nash (FF). He was elected with Mary Robinson ( Ind ) and Owen Sheehy-Skeffington (Ind) dissenting. On 12 November 1969, James Dooge ( FG ) was proposed for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach by Michael O'Higgins (FG) and seconded by Charles McDonald (FG). He was elected unopposed. On 1 January 1973, Yeats resigned as Cathaoirleach on his appointment as
744-546: The post in 1983–84. Several Irish politicians also started their careers as presidents of USI, including former Labour Party leaders Pat Rabbitte and Eamon Gilmore , and former chairman of the Labour Party, Colm Keaveney . Annie Hoey held the post from 2016 to 2017 and became the first former woman USI president to be elected to national office during the 2020 Seanad election as the Irish Labour Party candidate for
775-515: The status of some of the former winners, and the US tour which forms part of the prize. Running between November and February, it operates on a knockout basis, with the initial entrants (usually between 150 and 170 teams) being whittled down over successive rounds, culminating in a Grand Final with four teams and four individuals competing for team honours ( The Demosthenes Trophy ) and an individual prize ( The Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy ). The format of
806-478: The winning team, though this restriction was not observed in the 1972 competition, where Donal Deeny took both prizes. In that year, the judges nominated Kathleen Boyle to progress to the Observer Mace individual competition. The only other competition to adopt the same format is the All-Ireland Schools' Debating Competition . Many winners have gone on to have successful careers in law . Former winners in
837-537: Was Deputy President and Minister of State at the Department of Health Alex White TD served on the USI officer board. Broadcaster and journalist Howard Kinlay was the first president of the Students Union in TCD before becoming president of USI. The chain of student hostels owned by USI were called Kinlay House in his honour. Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey, was president of
868-677: Was Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland and recently chair of public inquiries in Dublin. David O'Sullivan, winner in 1974, became secretary general to the President of the European Commission . Maeve Collins, winner in 1989, is a former Irish Ambassador to Vietnam and now a Director General within the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs. Neville Keery , 1960 winner, was a member of
899-577: Was a prominent activist in Queen's Students' Union and a student representative on the Senate of QUB, and Simon Hamilton , Stormont Finance Minister also represented students on the Senate of Queen's. Jemma Dolan , Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone was vice president for Campaigns and Communications for the University of Ulster Students Union. Political activist and victim of the miscarriage of justice after
930-595: Was an activist in UCD Students' Union, and former TD Patrick Nulty was a member of the Students' Union Executive in UCD Students Union. Former Fianna Fáil senator James Carroll was education officer and later president of the Students' Union in UCD; and Mayor of Derry Martin Reilly was a sabbatical officer in Queen's. Christopher Stalford MLA , Lord High Sheriff of Belfast and youngest ever member of Belfast City Council
961-607: Was vice-president of the Students' Union in Maynooth in the 1990s. David O'Sullivan, later secretary general of the European Commission, was noted during his student days as a moderate voice in the Students' Union in Trinity College. Broadcasters and journalists like Aileen O'Meara and Cathy Grieve were both president of the Students Union in UCG. Broadcaster Vincent Browne was an activist and edited USI's monthly news magazine "Nusight" for