Consent Framework
About
On April 5, 2019, the then Department of Education and Skills launched the Framework in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs); Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions. This Framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive.
In July 2020, Minister Harris met with the National Advisory Committee (NAC) for the implementation of the Framework for Consent in HEIs (Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions). Following this meeting, the Minister wrote to all publicly funded HEIs requesting that they develop institutional action plans on tackling sexual violence and harassment, and report to the HEA on their progress on the implementation of the Framework.
The remit of the HEA Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality was expanded to cover all areas of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as oversight of implementation of the Framework for Consent.
Since then, the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has been working with HEIs and the sectoral representative bodies to support implementation of the Framework for Consent. For instance, for academic year 2020/21, the HEA has supported the national, sectoral and local roll out of online consent training and online bystander intervention training, as well as the development of a national Anonymous Reporting Tool for issues of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
As part of monitoring requirements, the HEA requires that institutions report progress on implementation of the Framework for Consent.
Read the Framework for Consent in HEIs (Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions)
MIC Consent Framework Action Plan
MIC Action Plan to Tackle Sexual Violence, Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment.
Student & Staff Supports
Student Supports
At Mary Immaculate College, we aim to give students a very positive experience but college life can also bring challenges, both personal and academic. MIC offers a range of holistic supports designed to help students if and when they may need them.
Mental Health Support for Third-Level Students in Ireland
Text MIC to 50808, anytime day or night. Visit www.text50808.ie
MIC Supports:
- Academic Learning Centre
- Access/Disability Office
- Accommodation Office
- Careers Service
- Chaplaincy Service
- Counselling Service
- Healthy Campus
- Medical Centre
- Seomra Caidrimh
- Student Academic Administration
- Student Parent Support Service
- Students’ Union
- Tailteann Sports Office
Safeguarding
Designated Liaison Persons:
MIC Limerick
Dr Geraldine Brosnan, Director of Student Life; Email: Geraldine.Brosnan@mic.ul.ie
Carrie Ryan; Email: Carrie.Ryan@mic.ul.ie
MIC Thurles
Paula Hourigan; Email: Paula.Hourigan@mic.ul.ie
Gender Orientation Support
MIC Limerick
Email: Geraldine.Brosnan@mic.ul.ie
MIC Thurles
Email: Tony.OFloinn@mic.ul.ie
External Supports
External Support Services
The following organisations can also offer specialist support:
- Text 50808
Free 24/7 Mental Health/Counselling Support in a Crisis - Text ‘HELLO’ to 50808 / text50808.ie
- Samaritans
National Helpline - 116 123
- Limerick Rape Crisis Centre
Limerick Rape Crisis Centre - 1800 311 511
Rape Crisis Centre’s 24-hour helpline - 1800 77 8888
Your local Rape Crisis Centre/Network
- HSE - Rape, sexual assault and where to get help
Sexual Assault Treatment Units
- Women’s Aid
24-hour helpline - 1800 341 900
- Men’s Aid
National Confidential Helpline – 01 554 3811
- Your local Gardaí
- HSE My Options
Freephone - 1800 828 010
- LGBT Ireland
National Helpline - 1890 929 539
MIC Supports
Employee Assistance Programme:
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a confidential support service available free of charge. You can contact the EAP by free phoning 1800 995 955 or email eap@vhics.ie or login to LiveWell site using your unique login code: VHIMaryI.
Human Resources
You may also contact the Human Resources Office for advice.
External Support Services
The following organisations can also offer specialist support:
- Text 50808
Free 24/7 Mental Health/Counselling Support in a Crisis - Text ‘HELLO’ to 50808 / text50808.ie
- Samaritans
National Helpline - 116 123
- Limerick Rape Crisis Centre
Phone: 1800 311 511
Rape Crisis Centre’s 24-hour helpline - 1800 77 8888
Your local Rape Crisis Centre/Network
- HSE - Rape, sexual assault and where to get help
Sexual Assault Treatment Units
- Women’s Aid
24-hour helpline - 1800 341 900
- Men’s Aid
National Confidential Helpline – 01 554 3811
- Your local Gardaí
- HSE My Options
Freephone - 1800 828 010
- LGBT Ireland
National Helpline - 1890 929 539
Workshops & Training
MISU in collaboration with the EDII Office continue to roll out Active*Consent workshops to students.
Content of each session:
1. 60 class reps & SU for face to face consent workshop & IBSA session.
2. 30 min online Active* Consent workshop available to all students in MIC
3. Teacher training - to facilitate second level active consent workshops.
The workshops are based on Active*Consent’s extensive research into young people’s sexual behaviours, attitudes and beliefs. The aim is to promote a positive and confident approach to sexual health and to equip young people with the tools to recognise and communicate about sexual consent. Read more about the Active*Consent initiative here.
UCC have launched a new staff focussed version of the Bystander training and both this and the original (updated) student Bystander training programme are now available to MIC.
UCC have offered MIC 100 places on their Bystander training to our staff and/or students. MISU and DEDII are working together to identify MIC colleagues/students for this training. To express your interest in participating in the programme please email EDII@mic.ul.ie
IADT have developed a student led animation project, Moving Parts, which draws attention to sexual consent, bystander intervention, and image-based sexual abuse from the perspective of third-level students. The resource has been made available to all HEIs to use within student induction and teaching and training materials with students and staff throughout the year.
The resource includes 15 animated short videos which address sexual consent, image-based sexual abuse, and bystander intervention; these resources have been developed through an inter-institutional collaboration bringing together student animators, student survivors of sexual violence, and subject matter experts to provide a unique and accessible insight into these complex and pertinent issues. All resources are available in both English and Irish (with subtitles).
Moving Parts resources can be found here on the IADT webpage and via Moving Parts YouTube channel. The videos are also housed on the national Consent Hub, based in NUIG.
Useful Links
- The HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion supports and oversees the implementation of Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions,which was published by the government in April 2019, and is often referred to as ‘the Framework for Consent in Higher Education’.
- In April 2021, at the request of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD, the HEA conducted national surveys to monitor the experiences of students and staff in relation to sexual violence and harassment, in order to create a robust evidence base for further policy and funding decisions in relation to tackling sexual violence and harassment in higher education institutions (HEIs).
- The HEA established an expert Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in HEIs (ESVH Advisory Group) in January 2021 to support this work. In collaboration with this advisory group, the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality Diversity and Inclusion developed and ran national surveys of staff and students to monitor their experiences in April 2021. Summary and detailed reports are available on the HEA website. Please note: The survey reports discuss experiences related to sexual harassment and violence. Some of the language is explicit and some may find it uncomfortable. Information on support can be found here.
- 11, 417 responses were received (7,901 students and 3,516 staff). The survey reports provide a picture of student and staff attitudes towards and experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment, as well as their awareness and confidence in HEI policies, processes and initiatives in the area. They set out a number of recommendations for action, which are addressed by the ‘Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education Institutions, Implementation Plan’ 2022 – 2024’ (ESVH Plan). The plan was developed by the HEA with the support of the HEA ESVH Advisory Group.
- The implementation plan was formally launched by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, at an event in Dublin today, 13 October 2022. Anna Bull, co-director of the 1752 Group which conducts research and campaigns to address sexual misconduct in higher education in the UK, delivered a keynote address at the event. The panel at the event included Noeline Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre; Treasa Fox, Head of Student Counselling TUS Midlands and chair of Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland (PCHEI); and Gavin Friel, actor and research assistant with the Active* Consent team at the University of Galway.
- The HEA Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in HEIs will maintain oversight of progress towards the delivery of the actions outlined in the plan, in close collaboration with the HEA. The group will meet on a regular basis to monitor implementation.
- #UnmuteConsent is a social media campaign running for the month of October 2022, that aims to mobilise the student community to make a difference, by speaking out, by enhancing their own knowledge about consent, and ultimately, by changing behaviours. It is led by the IUA in partnership with THEA and USI and is supported by the HEA.
- About
- MIC Consent Framework Action Plan
- Student & Staff Supports
- Workshops & Training
- Useful Links