Consent 

Consent is mandatory for participating in sexual activity. Consent is ongoing, mutually given, and freely given. A person must also have the capacity to consent, meaning they are not under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In Ireland, the legal age for consent is 17 years of age. It is a crime to engage in a sexual act with someone who has not given consent. In Ireland, the law is set out in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act of 2017.

Ongoing. Ongoing consent means a person can change their mind at any point during sexual activity. It also means that you should check in with your partner(s) when progressing from one sexual act to another, and consistently during the duration of each sexual act. 

Mutually Given. All parties involved in sexual activity must give their consent. Just because you are comfortable doing something does not mean your partner(s) is comfortable. Consent cannot be one-sided. 

Freely Given. Freely given consent means someone actively and enthusiastically provides consent for participating in sexual activity. It means they are not under pressure (physical or otherwise) to give consent.

Consent Classes

DCUSU will be running consent classes in collaboration with Student Support and Development in DCU during Orientation this year. These classes will be made available to students online through your LOOP page during the year, also. 

STI Services

There are a number of Sexual Health Services across the country that are available for free. For the most up-to-date information for any person in Ireland in light of COVID-19, please check here.

DCU’s Health Centre also provides STI services. A nurse consultation on STIs is available for free through the Health Centre during term-time and a full STI screening costs 40 euro. 

What does an STI screening involve? 

A full STI screening typically involves having your blood taken, oral, vaginal and/or rectal swabs, and a urine sample. This can vary depending on the type of sex your participate in. If you participate in receptive vaginal sex, for example, you may be required to take a vaginal swab. If you participate in any form of anal sex, you may be required to take an rectal swab. STI screenings are not painful and the tests themselves take less than 10 minutes to go through.

When should I get an STI screening? 

We recommend you get an STI screening every three months, and between each sexual partner. Even if you do not present with any symptoms, it is important you are aware of your sexual health status. 

I’m a man-who-has-sex-with-men, what should I know about STI services? 

There are a number of MSM-specific services available. You may have noticed this in the list of available STI services. While all STI services are capable of looking after your sexual health, we recommend MSM to access MSM-specific services if possible. There are particular concerns around MSM sexual activity which staff at MSM-specific services are well-versed in. Similarly, if you are a gender minority, staff members of MSM services are well-versed in accommodating your concerns which may not be guaranteed in other services.

If you are a man-who-has-sex-with-men, we also recommend considering starting PrEP. More information can be found here.

I’m nervous about attending an STI screening alone. What can I do?

Get in contact with dean@dcusu.ie who can help you out. Societies in DCU, for example DCU LGBTA, have previously organised group trips for STI screenings to reduce individual anxieties about the process. 

Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence 

DCU regards any sexual misconduct as unacceptable and operates a zero tolerance policy with regard to sexual misconduct. Full details can be found on the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy. 

If you have just been assaulted, try to get to a safe place and seek support from someone who can help you. If you are injured, seek medical attention by calling 999 or 112. You can further call the National 24 Hour Free Phone Helpline at 1800 778888 for support and information on your options.

If you would like to report the assault, you can call the Gardaí, find your local station, or call 999 or 112 for more. The Gardaí will also arrange transport to the nearest Sexual Assault Treatment Unit to get you medical attention and collect forensic evidence.

Medical Attention

For medical attention, your local Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) provides specialist treatment and information. Available on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year.

There are 6 SATUs in Ireland-  Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Waterford. (Limerick have a service but you will need to call 999/112 to explain what service you would like). Contact details of SATU.

DCU Support Advocates 

DCU has dedicated staff members who are there to help you in your times of need. Each member of DCUSU has also received Disclosure Training to ensure if you are ever in need of disclosing information on your experience, we can get you the right support. Useful contacts can be found below:

Dr Claire Bohan- Director of Student Support and Development.

Annabella Stover – Deputy Director of Student Support and Development.

Jessie Byrne – Head of Student Health Service.

Ruan Kennedy – Senior Counsellor at Counselling & Personal Development Service. 

Dean- Vice President for Welfare and Equality DCUSU.