Student encampment and blockade at Trinity to end

The agreement was reached at a meeting this afternoon.   

With the encampment and blockade of the Book of Kells removed, plans are being put in place to return to normal university business for staff, students, and members of the public.  

Senior Dean Prof. Eoin O’Sullivan, who led the talks for Trinity, said: “We are glad that this agreement has been reached and are committed to further constructive engagement on the issues raised. We thank the students for their engagement.”  

Trinity will continue to engage with all students and staff who are impacted by these issues.   

Trinity reaffirms its position on the following issues:    

Gaza    

We fully understand the driving force behind the encampment on our campus and we are in solidarity with the students in our horror at what is happening in Gaza. We abhor and condemn all violence and war, including the atrocities of October 7th, the taking of hostages and the continuing ferocious and disproportionate onslaught in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the dehumanisation of its people is obscene. We support the International Court of Justice’s position that ‘Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip.’   

A real and lasting solution that respects the human rights of everyone needs to be found.    

Divestment    

Trinity will complete a divestment from investments in Israeli companies that have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and appear on the UN Blacklist in this regard. This process is expected to be completed by June.  

Trinity will endeavour to divest from investments in other Israeli companies. This issue will be considered by a taskforce (more below) as a first step.   

On review, Trinity can confirm that its supplier list currently contains just one Israeli company which will remain until March 2025 for contractual reasons.   

Supporting Palestinian scholars    

Since January 2024 we have been working with local and international stakeholders including We Are Not Numbers (WANN), a youth-led, Palestinian non-profit project in the Gaza Strip to facilitate access to Trinity for students from Gaza seeking to continue their education. To date, we have identified places for eight scholars - six postgraduates and two undergraduates.    

All fees have been waived for these scholars and Trinity will use its Sanctuary Fund to provide accommodation. The places are in the School of Business, School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Languages, Literatures & Cultural Studies, School of Linguistic, Speech & Communication Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the International Foundation Programme. 

We are committed to doing more and indicated this to the Palestinian authorities via the Ambassador earlier this year. 

Taskforce    

As outlined in our previous statement (dated 6 May 2024), Trinity is setting up a taskforce to address a number of issues. This taskforce will operate within the formal structures of the College as its recommendations will ultimately need to be made to relevant principal committees, which is in accordance with the academic governance of the university.   

The student and staff voice will be essential to inform the terms of reference of the taskforce.  

The taskforce process will also review Trinity’s student exchanges with Israel. Recommendations from the taskforce will be brought to the relevant principal committees of the university.  

This taskforce will have an external chair and will include student and staff representatives. 

Further measures will include:  

• The Associate Vice Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will work with students to tackle concerns that have been expressed regarding all forms of racism.  
• The Chair of the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group has agreed to receive a late submission in relation to renaming The X Library.   
• Trinity welcomes the resolution of this matter. 
• Trinity welcomes the engagement with students and looks forward to resuming the normal activities of the College. 

Media Contact:

Catherine O’Mahony | Media Relations | catherine.omahony@tcd.ie