04 Informed Update Ireland delegate conference


With a strong focus on recruitment and rejuvenation there was an air of urgency about the Biennial Delegate Conference 2025 held in Dublin on Saturday 8 November. Under the theme ‘Organising Together:


Beter in a Trade Union’, delegates debated a range of issues ranging from health and safety, collective bargaining and remote working to the need for targeted recruitment and the protection of public service broadcasting. In welcoming joint presidents Gerry


Curran and Fran McNulty, outgoing Cathaoirleach (chair) Cearbhall Ó Síocháin recalled the contribution of previous Irish presidents, including the most recent office holders Barry McCall and Christy Loſtus. Also present on her first visit to Dublin


as general secretary was Laura Davison while vice-president Georgina Morris was keynote speaker at the aſternoon seminar on branch re-organisation. Delegates were united in expressing concern at low levels of branch activity, with particular concern expressed at the decline in atendance at branch meetings. While this is a concern across the union - and in other unions - Séamus Dooley, Irish secretary, warned that low levels of branch participation impede the ability of the union to serve members and to organise at chapel level. Among the issues discussed was the


the failure of the Irish government to implement EU legislation on collective bargaining. Joint president Fran McNulty, himself


Carolyn Farrar and Stephen Corrigan


possibility of merging branches, closer co-operation between branches and the need to co-ordinate chapels across the union with a common employer. Galway journalist Stephen Corrigan


was elected as Cathaoirleach and will lead discussions at a follow up seminar in Spring 2026. Carolyn Farrar was re- elected as Leas Cathaoirleach. Te issue of collective bargaining dominated discussions on industrial maters. Tere was strong support for Dublin branch motion calling on the Irish Executive Council (IEC) to continue to accelerate work with its sister unions, via the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), in campaigning for the statutory right to collective bargaining. Te motion was proposed by Kity Holland and seconded by Ian McGuinness, Irish organiser. Judy Murphy, West of Ireland, moved a motion expressing dissatisfaction at


Anti-SLAPP provisions


In July the Irish Dáil passed the Defamation (Amendment) Bill. However its anti-SLAPP provisions


are disappointing as they apply only to defamation proceedings, even though SLAPPs frequently exploit other causes of action including privacy, copyright, and data protection. As the bill went


before the upper house, the Seanad, the NUJ joined 29 other organisations in calling for further anti-SLAPP provisions within the legislation. Meanwhile in November the NUJ


welcomed the Scotish government’s finding that legislation needs to be introduced to combat SLAPPs. “For


an RTÉ presenter, successfully proposed a late notice motion expressing grave concern at the RTÉ decision to close its TV documentary unit in 2026. RTÉ is to outsource to the commercial sector all television documentaries currently produced in-house. It was also agreed to launch a new €3,000 bursary to encourage the next generation of Irish language student journalists into the industry. Sparánacht Bhrainse Átha Cliath, Ceardchumann Náisiúnta na nIriseoirí, is open to student members in third-level education in Ireland. “Tis bursary is an important


investment in Irish language journalism,” said Éanna Ó Caollaí, NUJ Dublin branch member. “It recognises the obstacles faced by young journalists today and we hope that it will be an incentive to those who wish to explore the possibilities of a career in Irish language journalism. It is important that all voices are reflected in the media.” To apply for the bursary, please email NUJDublinbranch@gmail.com before 5pm on 23 January 2026. Applicants must submit a previously unpublished 500-word article in Gaeilge outlining their vision for Irish language journalism.


too long those with thin skins and thick wallets have tried to silence the media with vexatious legal claims which have litle chance of actual success, but which are prohibitively expensive to defend,” said Nick McGowan-Lowe, national organiser for Scotland. “We urge the Scotish government to follow this up urgently to ensure reform of the law happens quickly.”


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