The Union of Students in Ireland (USI)has elected a new president who has vowed that students "will no longer be ignored" by politicians.
Colm Hamrogue, president of the Sligo Institute of Technology students' union, was elected at the USI annual confernce in Ennis, Co Clare and will take up the new post in July.
Mr Hamrogue (24) is a BBS Strategic Management and Planning graduate and has bee Sligo SU president for the last two years.
"I look forward to the challenges for the coming year and promise to campaign of the issues that truly affect Irish students both North and South," he said.
"The prospect of a general election gives USI an opportunity to push the student agenda throughout the year.
"We aim to mobilise students across the country to make TDs fully aware that the student population will no longer be ignored".