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Resolutions and Nominations

Have your say and take the opportunity to propose a resolution and direct the development of the Irish-medium education sector. Gaelscoileanna Teo.’s AGM will be held in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone on November 21st, 2015. The closing date for resolutions and nominations this year is October 9th. They must be sent as signed copies to:

An Rúnaí, Gaelscoileanna Teo., Halla Naomh Pádraig, Institiúid Oideachais Marino, Ascaill Uí Ghríofa, Baile Átha Cliath 9, D09 K4P6.

You can download the forms (in Irish) here:

Proposing a Resolution

What is a resolution?

A resolution is a simple statement that expresses a need or desire that a school community may have. Members of Gaelscoileanna Teo. are given the opportunity to propose resolutions at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting. Resolutions can be put forward regarding any issue pertaining to the work of the school or the wider Irish-medium education community.

Why propose a resolution?

Gaelscoileanna Teo. acts according to the resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting and according to individual applications and requests for support from schools during the year. Gaelscoileanna Teo. acts according to the requirements of our members and the wider sector. The sector can have a much greater effect and influence if it’s a strong united voice from the schools themselves.

How to propose a resolution

A school must be registered with the organisation in order to propose a resolution. You can register your school by calling 01 853 5195 or by email oifig@gaelscoileanna.ie. There is no upper limit to the amount of resolutions that can be proposed. To propose a resolution, schools can fill out a simple form and return it to the organisation via email or post. A copy of the form is available from the school’s principal.

Discussing resolutions at the Annual General Meeting

A representative from the school must be present at the Annual General Meeting to propose a resolution. It is not necessary that this person is one of the proposal signatories. The representative is asked to present the resolution to the assembly and is given the opportunity to speak on its merits.

According to the Standing Orders of Gaelscoileanna Teo.:

  • The proposer is allocated a maximum of five minutes to speak, everybody else then has three minutes.
  • Amendments will be accepted and presented to the assembly beginning with the last resolution. Amendments that have been cancelled by a previous amendment will not be discussed. All amendments must be in writing. Amendments that are entirely contrary to the original proposal cannot be put forward.
  • If a resolution is proposed, it cannot be withdrawn except with the permission of the assembly.

Voting is done by holding the voting card in the air to indicate a yes or no vote. The resolutions passed are included in Gaelscoileanna Teo.’s work programme for the year ahead. A report is given on how the organisation has acted on the resolutions in the Annual Report.

Making Nominations

What is a nomination?

A nomination is a recommendation from a member regarding membership on the steering board of Gaelscoileanna Teo. Our members are the schools that are registered with us and these members elect the officers and members of the Gaelscoileanna Teo steering board. You can register your school by calling 01 853 5195 or by emailing oifig@gaelscoileanna.ie. There are seven officers (the President included) and up to 13 members permitted on the board, which can be composed of parents, teachers, directors and members of steering committees and boards of management of Irish-medium schools.

Why make a nomination?

Gaelscoileanna Teo. is a democratic organisation and it is of the utmost importance that its steering committee is representative of its members; i.e. the Irish medium primary and post-primary schools . The steering board meets on a monthly basis during the school year to provide direction and support to the organisation’s executives to ensure that the organisation functions effectively on behalf of the sector. Every organisation that is registered with Gaelscoileanna Teo. is entitled to make a nomination to the steering board and naíscoileanna/naíonraí/schools can nominate a representative of their choice (parents, school staff, board of management members, etc.). Any school teaching through the medium of Irish in the 32 counties can take out membership with the organisation and nominate members to the steering board.

Is eagraíocht dhaonlathach í Gaelscoileanna Teo. agus tá sé rí-thábhachtach go mbeadh bord stiúrtha aici atá ionadaíoch ar a comhaltaí; sé sin, na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge ag an mbun agus iar-bhunleibhéal. Tagann an bord stiúrtha le chéile go míosúil i rith na scoilbhliana le treoir agus tacaíocht a thabhairt d’fheidhmeannaigh na heagraíochta le go bhfeidhmeodh sí go héifeachtach ar son na hearnála. Tá deis ag gach scoil a chláraíonn leis an eagraíocht ainmniúcháin a dhéanamh don bhord stiúrtha agus is féidir le naíscoileanna/naíonraí/scoileanna a rogha ionadaí a ainmniú (idir tuismitheoirí, foireann scoile, baill de bhoird bhainistíochta na scoile nó eile). Is féidir le haon scoil atá ag múineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge sna 32 contae ballraíocht a ghlacadh leis an eagraíocht agus ainmniúchán a dhéanamh don bhord stiúrtha.

How to make a nomination

To make a nomination, you must fill out a simple form and send it back to the organisation via email to oifig@gaelscoileanna.ie or by post to Gaelscoileanna Teo. A copy of the form is available from the school’s principal. It is very important that the nominee agrees to be nominated to the board. It is not necessary to nominate candidates for every position on the board.

Election at the Annual General Meeting

  • No name shall be put forward on the day unless the nominee has accepted the nomination beforehand.
  • Every school registered with the organisation has three votes, and they must attend the Conference if they wish to use these votes. Every member on the steering board has a vote, even if they are resigning office at that particular conference.
  • A secret ballot is held if there is more than one nomination for any particular post. If there is only one nomination for the post and the nominee is happy to accept the nomination, s/he will be automatically elected. The President and officers are elected by a simple majority vote and must have at least 50% of the votes. The president and other members of the steering board are elected using a secret ballot.
  • The President is elected biannually and all other members of the steering board are elected annually.