Union vice-presidents Barry Duffy and Paul Lilly have survived no-confidence motions brought before last night’s special meeting of the student representative council. The Space played host to a vigorous debate over the efficacy of the sabbatical officers, with councillors Damien Corridan and Anne Pauli presenting well-reasoned, well-researched critiques of the work of the ‘Chuckle Brothers’.
BY LORCAN MULLEN AND CONNOR DALY
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While a majority of councillors voted in favour of the no-confidence motions, the constitutional threshold of three-quarters was not met. Duffy and Lilly, in conjunction with familiar faces Martin Lilly and Seamus Óg MacGiolla Cheara successfully marshalled the support of their Law/GAA power base, with an unusually large delegation in attendance. Speaker Alex Redpath quipped to councillors, “some of you I’m meeting for the first time.”
Redpath relinquished the chair, alluding to earlier accusations of partisan support for Duffy and Lilly during the performance related pay saga. These allegations led to a similar failed no-confidence vote in Redpath earlier this year. Ryan Cushley took his place, in an effort to avoid the intrusion of “vested interests.”
The VP Education’s hearing came first. Cllr. Pauli opened the debate, citing the behaviour of officers like Duffy as a reason for student political apathy. She stated that Duffy was “taking the mick out of this institution”, deeming his prospective dismissal “no loss to us.” In support, Cllr. Corridan made a powerful case for the council’s duty as a scrutinising body:
“…when the Union is failing its members, council has a duty to step in and do what is morally just…personality alone cannot stop us from discharging our responsibilities.”
Corridan explained that examination of Duffy’s officer reports showed scant evidence of effort; in totting up his claimed hours, the Union Senator could find only 3.6 months of work, at a rough estimate, out of 10 in the job so far.
In response, a pharmacy student defended Duffy, describing him as “professional and diligent” when he needed urgent help over academic hearings. The student also cast Duffy’s response to his troubles in a very positive light compared with last year’s VP Education, Kevin Kelly.
Corridan summed up Duffy’s hearing, urging councillors to “stand up for a strong union, [to] fight for a strong union.”
Lilly’s turn in the firing line came next, and the debate followed along almost identical lines. Lilly, like Duffy, opted to conduct his defence with a bland, endlessly platitudinous reading from a pre-prepared power point presentation. He told councillors that he, like Duffy “had always given my level best.”
In a dramatic moment, a visibly reluctant Laura Hawthorne (VP Community) took to the floor, speaking for the motion. Hawthorne stressed that her stance was not personal, and that “no officer is perfect, but there is a standard to be set.” Hawthorne cited her “inordinate amount of time” working on the International Student Society, apparently Lilly’s biggest achievement of the year, as an example of officers being forced to fill in for the habitually lazy or inept duo. Hawthorne told the council that “you are not asked politely to scrutinise, you are required to scrutinise.”
A secret ballot was then taken, and the results were soon announced, leading to a raucous bout of triumphant clapping from the assembled Law/GAA contingent. These members then walked out en masse, completely uninterested in dealing with the subsequent business of the council. Incoming VP Campaigns Fiona Kidd visibly lost her temper, shouting to the sneering departing councillors: “That says it all!”
After this exodus, council once again slid inexorably into quorate, meaning a number of constitutional amendments could not be properly dealt with.
A visibly tiring council then voted through the officer reports, an impressive policy on the environment and sustainability in the Union, and, after much confused debate, affirmed the President’s reading of the Constitution on the subject of constituencies for the next council elections. Schools will now have a specific seat, in addition to open faculty constituencies. Council also passed a motion condemning the Draft Public Assemblies Bill which attempts, for no apparent reason, to restrict citizens’ rights of assembly with an inordinate amount of prior consultation and permission.
Ever the loyal apprentice, Martin Lilly, brother of Paul, took to the walls of Facebook last night, saying in a number of places, very simply, “we won.”
Students may ask themselves whether they fall under Lilly’s definition of “we”.
Photos from the council meeting can be found at The Gown’s Facebook page.
Laura Hawthorne is one of the hardest working sabbatical officers. She has worked round the clock (up to 70 hr weeks – in nearly every weekend). She has done everything her job has required her to do.
She has fought legislation against those living in the holylands which have tried to kick all the students out of the area.
She has halved the number of complaints made against students in student areas (Holylands/Stranmillis/Lisburn) – meaning less cautions and fines against students.
She has always defended Students who haven’t broken the law. (It is not in her remit to fight court cases – safer to leave that to the lawyers.)
Regarding the Gaming motion – this is something which she was acting on behalf of others (i.e. RAG) who are not elected to council. And it is to allow things like RAFFLES and – “how many sweeties in the jar” – competitions to allow RAG to raise money through these rather common ways for CHARITY.
To any Christian who brings her ‘Christianity’ into Question, she has kept her faith strong throughout the year, yeah – so maybe she hasn’t been to as many CU meetings – doesn’t mean she’s any less of a Christian. She has always conducted herself in a more than admirable way, always putting other people’s concerns before her own.
And do I really have to remind you of: “judge not lest ye be judged”.
Are you really suggesting that it is un-christian to speak against someone who has lied continually in their reports – claiming they’ve done work which she has done? Surely it is more un-christian to not speak when a charity (which the SU is) is paying people who don’t do work.
Regardless of what you think of the other sabbs – if you really believe Laura has not done any work, why don’t you email any of the other sabbatical officers.
Why don’t you ask Paul Courtney – one of the best VPCS in years:
su.vpcs@qub.ac.uk
Why not even ask Duffy or Lilly if she’s worked hard? (Not if they like her. If she’s worked hard)
su.vpeducation@qub.ac.uk
su.vpequality@qub.ac.uk
This is Laura Hawthorne. Very Sad.
For all those who say that the “GAA/Law” name is a slander I say there is no smoke without fire. You should not question them being called this, but why such a term has become a slander in the first place. Clearly it represents something that students at QUB don’t like.
Furthermore, it doesn’t matter how much you complain about Laura/Shane/Gareth/Paul on here, they weren’t the ones brought up by the council for not performing their position adequately. The council represetns the student body, at least those who actually care enough to put themselves forward to represent their fellow students. It is not the opinions of the ones who came to that meeting and voted to keep their mates in that matter, it is those who are there for every meeting who actually know what goes on in the executive. A vote of no confidence by them should be seen as a serious questioning of your conduct.
In a vote like this nobody wins, because the vote isn’t a question of winning. it is a question of doing what is right for the student body as a whole.
@Christian Follower
The fact is that Lilly and Duffy didn’t do their jobs properly. Obviouly their friends will defend them here, anyone would expect that much of their own friends, but it doesn’t disguise the fact that they simply weren’t up to the job.
And for all the jibes about Laura, on a personal note, she’s never been anything less than extremely helpful and friendly when I’ve been in the exec office this year, which has been quite frequently. She seems to care about her job and from what I’ve seen, the hours she has put in have been absolutely above and beyond the call of duty.
@SU INSIDER2
You’re being ridiculous. Stop being ridiculous. I mean really, just no need to be ridiculous. To describe Lorcan as being “someone’s man” is ludicrous, especially since he’s spent most of the year attacking the current sabbs. If he’s defending Brogan, it’s because he’s done a good job, the same way he has attacked Lilly and Duffy for being pathetically inept at their jobs.
I fail to see how Laura has been hypocritical in her behaviour. The only things that people can launch against her is that she behaved “unprofessionally” by publically speaking against her collegues and being responsible for division in the exec.
These accusations in themselves miss the mark of unprofessionallism entirely.
Firstly she made the comments publically in front of the body responsible for sabb scrutiny.
Secondly few councillors were qualified to speak on the work of Barry and Paul because they did not work with them for the year.
Thirdly if she believed that they were not working then for her not to say something was an act of injustice.
Forthly unity can only be found under truth and agreement any unity that has not these is false.
Fifthly Laura was one of the few councillors and sabb members who had the courage to get up and scrutinise. Indeed it is easy to see by the way they are being treated now why she was one of the few because the rest knew that the personal abuse suffered would be great.
Laura Did Good and the bullies in the GAA/Law Cliche did not like it.
@Teetering on Tolitaltarian (sic)
On the dot. We may not like the way people vote or the reasons for it, or even that they turn up to vote on a single issue without engaging for the rest of the year, but fare thee well democracy and UK politics as a whole. Still, block voting for Li/ffy isn’t dissimilar to block voting for pro-life in NUS/USI so you live by the the sword.
Just a random thought on a Monday morning.
J
exasperated at elms
Considering that only around 15% vote in the election with law nearly always being the highest turnout, then I see my point valid.
@ Responding to the Christian follower…please leave religion out of student politics, it may prove offensive to many people who read this
Worst thing about this entire debacle is that the majority of people about campus really don’t care altogether.
I believe Duffy and Lilly were both incompetent. Not saying they didn’t do some of the things they were HIRED to do, but at the end of the day the just weren’t up for the task for whatever reason. The fact that they had to round up all their mates to stop the motion just highlights their guilt.
Enough about Christianity, its besides the point. This was either a personal attack by the rest of the council, or Duffy and Lilly were terrible at certain things they were paid to do. Ask yourself, which is the most likely?
I’m essentially positive from my personal meetings with all of the involved that Duffy and Lilly are just a waste of money and shame on their lackeys who bailed them out, regardless of what clubs or courses they are members of.
In am glad that the bias is becoming clear as well.
Why don’t the lot of you just go back to the bot or rain – clearly you were happier there than in the SU.
All comments referring to religion have been removed.
The Gown team urges readers not to post any more comments like this as they will not be moderated.
Catherine Wylie
Editor
I am friendly with the chuckle brothers, but i cant defend them as the fact is they haven’t done enough. However, what does the council ever really achieve that affects students on the ground level. VERY LITTLE. this is why most people don’t care about this
Why were the comments about religion removed?
Because they were completely irrelevant and a lot of them were just speculative attacks on people whose religious identity is their own personal business.
Paul Lilly is a tremendously great man!