Ratoath pupil elected to student body

A Ratoath student has been elected president of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU).
Mark Caffrey was elected at the ISSU recent annual meeting at the Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin.
Secondary School delegates from all over the country attended the meeting.
The annual meeting is the primary decision making event for the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union, where decisions are made democratically about what issues and projects the ISSU tackles for the year ahead.
There were a number of guest speakers on the day, including Patricia Kennedy of Stick and Stones, Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes and Mr John Lonergan Former governor of Mountjoy prison.
The Minister of Education, Ruairi Quinn addressed the conference and the delegates had a question and answer session with the Minister.
Mark had previously served for a year as equality officer with the ISSU and is now the head of the representative body.
In his election speech he said that he was going to develop the ISSU on more local levels by setting up regional councils.
There will also be a volunteer and work experience programme for anyone, in particular TY students, who wish to assist in developing the organisation and to expand membership to all second-level schools in the nation.
“The ISSU is a catalyst for real and responsible change in the role of young people in schools and society. I look forward to representing second-level students nationally for the coming year,” he said.