Students have called on the Government to scrap the long- standing policy of compulsory Irish in second-level schools.
The Union of Secondary Students (USS), was last night debating a motion which stated that students should have a choice over whether to take the subject or not. It was expected to be passed.
Mr Daire Hickey, spokesman for USS, said students had no oppostion to Irish itself, but opposed the compulsory arrangements in second-level schools.
He said the USS, which was set up in the middle of the teachers' strike, had been contacted by many students about the issue. The topic was being debated at the group's annual general meeting in Liberty Hall last night.
He said the requirement to have Irish to enter NUI colleges such as UCD was deeply unfair to students who had no interest in the language.
"We have no problem with students who want to do Irish, but to force others to do the subject, particularly until sixth year, strikes us as very unfair," he said. The other problem was the Irish curriculum at second level was not relevant to second-level students.
The USS has been raising its profile since it was set up during the ASTI campaign last year. Mr Hickey said the union was negotiating with the Minister of State for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan, about getting an office and some funding.
The organisation was also due to debate last night the question of advertising within schools. Mr Hickey said some companies were now placing adverts on school walls and noticeboards and pupils were not happy about it.
"Students do not like being targeted while they are at school, they face enough advertising when they go out the school gates," he said.
The motion reads: "That the USS is opposed to advertising of a commercial nature in schools". It was also expected to be passed.
Students were represented at the meeting by a large number of student councils from all over the country. Mr Hickey said the annual general meeting was very important for the union, as it allowed students to speak frankly and openly to their national representatives. It also gave students the chance to elect a new board to represent them in the forthcomming year.