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Latest Articles
Farmers and mental health
Reading Time: 5 minutes In this Mental Health Awareness Week, which also coincides with this year’s Balmoral Show, this article examines an issue which has received comparatively little attention and on which, so far, not much research has been
What now for direct support to farmers in Northern Ireland post-Brexit?
Reading Time: 5 minutes A key issue within Northern Ireland since the UK’s decision to leave the EU in June 2016 is exactly how this decision will affect local farming?
How could the Brexit vote affect farming and food in Northern Ireland?
Reading Time: 6 minutes The agri-food sector is a significant one for the economy and employment in Northern Ireland. For a number of reasons, the implications of the vote to leave the EU are difficult to gauge at this
Is Northern Ireland ‘Open’ for business? Examining the social and economic impact of sporting events
Reading Time: 7 minutes This article draws on recent experiences of Government-funded sporting events in Northern Ireland (NI), highlighting a number of those events, in particular their economic and social benefits. Such past events have helped to develop NI’s
Northern Ireland trade in goods, 2018
Reading Time: 3 minutes This blog post provides an overview of Northern Ireland’s (NI) current position with regard to trade in goods and updates our previous blog on NI’s trade in goods in 2017. It uses the most recent
Regional devolution for Northern Ireland: What’s the big deal?
Reading Time: 5 minutes On 26 March 2019, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (NI) signed an agreement between the United Kingdom (UK) Government, the NI Civil Service and six of the 11 NI district councils. This gave
Free periods? Period poverty, its impact on education, and policy responses to the issue
Reading Time: 7 minutes Period poverty is a topical issue, globally and within the United Kingdom (UK). Recently, there has been some concern about the relationship between period poverty and school attendance. In addition, the reduction of taxation on
We don’t need no education!
Reading Time: 8 minutes The finances of Northern Ireland’s schools have been in the spotlight for some time. For example, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster is currently holding an Inquiry into Education funding. In June 2018, Northern
How is Northern Ireland performing in science, technology, engineering and maths?
Reading Time: 5 minutes This week sees people across Northern Ireland getting interested and involved in science through the Northern Ireland Science Festival. We thought we would join the celebration of all things scientific by taking a look
Who runs Northern Ireland? Taking stock of gender and power in Northern Ireland
Reading Time: 4 minutes The late feminist writer Kate Millet observed society in the late 1960s and concluded that almost all positions of power were occupied by men, a state of affairs she referred to as ‘patriarchy’ – the
EU exit regulations and Northern Ireland
Reading Time: 4 minutes A high profile consequence of the continuing failure to establish an Executive and fully functioning Assembly was the legislative passage this week of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill 2018. A
A brief overview of the Northern Ireland Assembly Library
Reading Time: 5 minutes This week is Libraries Week so we thought we would provide an insight into the Northern Ireland Assembly Library, its work and the collection that it manages. The Assembly Library The Library, like the Assembly
The Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
Reading Time: 8 minutes The recent coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak that originated in the city of Wuhan, China has received vast media attention due to its rapid transmission and the number of associated deaths, particularly in China. This blog aims
Waiting lists and waiting times for Elective Care in Northern Ireland: Taking stock
Reading Time: 7 minutes This blog article is based on the information and analysis in the recently published Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service paper, ‘Waiting lists and waiting times for Elective Care in Northern Ireland: Taking stock’.
Suicide statistics and strategy in Northern Ireland: Update
Reading Time: 10 minutes By Lesley-Ann Black and Keara McKay This article is an updated version of a piece which was published on Research Matters in February 2019. It includes statistics updated with 2018 figures, a revised distribution map,
Grit Expectations: How and when are our roads and footpaths salted during the winter season?
Reading Time: 6 minutes By Des McKibbin & Keara McKay As temperatures plummetted towards the end of November 2017, forecasters began to predict the coldest December in seven years. Meteorologists are suggesting winter 2017/18 could be colder than normal
Is road safety worse in the border region?
Reading Time: 8 minutes Death and serious injury from road traffic collisions (RTCs) are tragic events bringing untold pain and suffering on families. At the same time, through better understanding of what causes them and targeting appropriate action, they
How can the Department for Infrastructure fund delivery of its infrastructure pipeline?
Reading Time: 6 minutes Northern Ireland’s infrastructure development was neglected for decades. There are now plans in place to rectify this but how this will be funded remains uncertain.
Brexit and Northern Ireland: Reading List #27
Reading Time: 2 minutes Please note: This version of the Brexit and Northern Ireland reading list has now been superseded. For the very latest version, please see here. The Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISe) has just published
What next for the environment, Brexit and cross-border co-operation?
Reading Time: 8 minutes Environmental regulation currently experienced by Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI) is greatly influenced by European Union (EU) policy frameworks. While some frameworks, such as the Water Framework Directive, and the Birds
A comparison of the planning systems in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
Reading Time: 6 minutes This blog article examines the similarities and differences between the planning systems north and south of the border on the island of Ireland. It is based on a more detailed research paper prepared jointly by