Governance & Strategy

Mary Immaculate College has adopted the Code of Governance for Irish Universities (2019) and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016) and maintains procedures to ensure compliance with both. Codes of Conduct for members of the Board of Trustees, for members of An tÚdarás Rialaithe and for employees of the College, each incorporating conflict of interest and ethics in public office provisions, were in place throughout the year.

An tÚdarás Rialaithe holds overall responsibility for the College’s system of internal control, which covers financial, operational and compliance controls and the risk management framework. A review of the effectiveness of that system was undertaken in respect of the year and approved by An tÚdarás Rialaithe within three months of the year-end. No issues of loss, contingency or uncertainty relating to the effectiveness of internal control were identified. A control weakness in respect of procurement compliance was identified and is being addressed under the Corporate Procurement Plan, with corrective action reported quarterly to the Audit & Risk Committee.

The College’s financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025 were audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, who reported an unqualified opinion. The Statement of Governance and Internal Control accompanying those statements sets out the College’s position across the full range of governance and compliance requirements and should be read alongside this chapter.

The year was one of substantial governance change. A new President took office and led the development of the College’s next strategic plan. A new Governing Authority was constituted for the term to 2029. The Sisters of Mercy notified the Trustees of their decision to withdraw from the governance of the College after 125 years. Each of these is addressed below, together with the programme of reform they have set in train.

Mary Immaculate College is governed through a two-tier structure. The College is incorporated under a Scheme of Incorporation made by the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland, which vests certain reserved powers in a Board of Trustees and, subject to those reservations, delegates responsibility for the governance of the College to An tÚdarás Rialaithe (the Governing Authority). The Instrument of Government, approved by the Trustees, sets out the structures and procedures through which that responsibility is exercised.

An tÚdarás Rialaithe is the principal governance and decision-making body of the College. It guides the strategic direction of the College, oversees policy, monitors the performance of senior management, and holds overall responsibility for the system of internal control, encompassing financial, operational and compliance controls and the risk management framework. The powers it exercises, and those retained by the Trustees, are set out in the Schedule of Matters Reserved to the Governing Authority.

An tUachtarán, with An Fhoireann Fheidhmiúcháin (the Executive Team), is responsible for the operational management of the College and is accountable to An tÚdarás Rialaithe. An Chomhairle Acadúil (Academic Council) controls the academic affairs of the College, subject to review by An tÚdarás Rialaithe, to the financial constraints it determines, to the academic regulations of the University of Limerick, and to the traditional principles of academic freedom.

Under the Instrument of Government, four standing committees of An tÚdarás Rialaithe are permanently constituted, each chaired by an independent chairperson. Each report to An tÚdarás Rialaithe quarterly.

An Chomhairle Acadúil maintains three standing sub-committees — the Academic Programme Appraisal Committee, the Teaching & Learning Committee and the Research Committee — and reports quarterly to An tÚdarás Rialaithe. An Fhoireann Fheidhmiúcháin maintains a further set of standing committees covering access, the Irish language, environment and sustainability, faculty management, health promotion, health and safety, ICT services, strategic implementation and student wellbeing.

Meetings and Attendance

An tÚdarás Rialaithe met five times during the year, in accordance with the calendar of meetings it had approved, and all meetings were quorate. Three private sessions were held without executive members or management present, exceeding the minimum of two provided for under the Code of Governance for Irish Universities (2019). The Chairperson is satisfied that the number of meetings was sufficient to discharge the duties of the Governing Authority, and no circumstances arose requiring extraordinary meetings. The Audit & Risk Committee met four times. A full record of meetings and individual member attendance is published in the Statement of Governance and Internal Control accompanying the College’s financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.

MIC remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003, as amended by the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. During the 2024/25 academic year, the College continued to progress in its compliance with statutory requirements relating to the promotion and use of the Irish language in the delivery of public services, communications, publications and institutional activities. 

The key developments during the year included:

• Ongoing oversight of the College's obligations under the Official Languages Acts through the designated senior manager appointed under Section 4B.
• Continued implementation of the College's Irish Language Policy and support for Irish-language initiatives across the College community.
• Ongoing engagement with relevant national bodies and monitoring of developments relating to language standards and statutory guidance.
• Review of College practices and procedures to support compliance with current and emerging obligations under the legislation.
• Promotion of Irish language awareness and engagement through institutional events and activities during the academic year.   

The College remains committed to the progressive enhancement of Irish-language services and ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Official Languages Acts as further provisions of the legislation are commenced and implemented.

The Information Compliance Office continued to support the College in meeting its statutory and regulatory obligations across data protection, freedom of information, records management, information governance and related compliance activities throughout the 2024/25 academic year.

Key areas of activity included the management of data protection rights requests, freedom of information requests, incident and breach assessments, records retrieval and governance, and the provision of advice and guidance to staff on the lawful and responsible handling of personal data. The Office worked closely with academic and professional services departments to support compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, the Freedom of Information Act and other relevant legislative and regulatory requirements.

A continued focus during the year was the promotion of a culture of accountability and good information governance through the delivery of guidance, awareness initiatives and practical support to staff across the College. Key areas of activity included privacy by design, records management practices, information sharing arrangements, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and governance considerations associated with emerging technologies. 

The Information Compliance Office actively engaged with higher education sector networks, professional forums and conferences throughout the year. Through participation in these events, the Office represented MIC, contributed to sector-wide discussions on information governance and compliance, and remained informed of emerging regulatory developments, good practice and peer experiences.

In support of the College's wider governance framework, the Office contributed to risk management processes, compliance reporting and assurance activities, including regular reporting to the Executive Team and the Audit & Risk Committee. 

The College remains committed to maintaining high standards of information governance, transparency and accountability, ensuring that personal data and institutional information are managed in a manner that supports legal compliance, good governance and the interests of students, staff and stakeholders.