UCD'S University Observer ran an interesting piece recently on USI's accommodation arrangements for visiting regional conveners.

USI, it emerges, is renting accommodation for conveners for £80 per week from Colman Byrne, its own president. Byrne rents an apartment on Palmerstown Road for £800 per month, and one room in this apartment is now being sublet to his own organisation for the use of its conveners; so USI is paying nearly half of the total monthly rent.

The decision to rent some accommodation was made earlier in the year. Byrne undertook to provide suitable accommodation and the agreement to rent part of his flat was made with USI, though not with the officer board itself. Byrne's actions have left him open to allegations of conflict of interest, allegations which he has denied.

Byrne says the whole matter is out in the open and transparent. He says there is "no financial impropriety" involved and no conflict of interest, arguing that the arrangement is not of benefit to himself and is not harming the organisation.

Not all of USI's constituent colleges feel the same. At USI's national council on September 27th, subsequent to the publication of the Observer article, two motions were put forward, one of which called on USI to end the rental arrangement with Byrne. A quorum count was called, the council was found to be inquorate and the motion fell by the wayside, presumably to be picked up and dusted off for the next national council.

Subsequent to the national council meeting, UCD students' union president Ian Walsh wrote to Byrne in connection with his rental arrangements. In his letter, circulated to all affiliated colleges, Walsh stated his union's view: "it is a conflict of interests for USI to rent a room from the USI president in his private capacity" and said the situation "results in a negative perception of USI and the students' union movement". Walsh has called on the USI officer board to rent a room elsewhere. USI's officers met last Thursday, but no decision has been made on renting alternative accommodation.

Byrne says he has "no intention" of changing the arrangement, pointing out that conveners got the equivalent of eight nights use out of the room in the last week alone.

"I'm doing a good job and people are simply looking for a way to embarrass me," he concludes. "And it's very hard to embarrass me."