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A blog from the Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service

Governance

Here you will find blogs produced by our research officers in relation to education and skills. Please note that the blogs you will find here are blogs that have been published since 1 May 2022. We also have an archive of blogs where you will find everything published before May 2022.

Brexit

Having been granted Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 moved from debate into law, opening a new phase in the UK’s approach
A large vessel carrying shipping containers moving towards a port city
Context In July 2025 the European Commission published a proposal to add the new EU regulation on forced labour to the list of laws that apply in Northern Ireland
A photograph showing European Commission headquarters; image by Ank Kumar and used under CC 4.0
On 11 February 2025, the European Commission (the Commission) will present its Work Programme (CWP) for the year ahead during the European Parliament’s plenary session. Publication of the CWP

Democracy and Government

Justice

A stylised image showing a group of women embracing in a line.
This blog article is part of a series from the Assembly Research and Information Service to mark International Women’s Day 2025. In Northern Ireland, new research suggests 98% of
An illustrative image showing a hand pointing to some superimposed symbols, including a drawing of the scales of justice (image: Adobe Stock images)
This blog article focuses on legal aid available for criminal matters, highlighting ongoing challenges like industrial action by criminal barristers in the Crown Court. It also considers the recommendations
A drawing showing various themes, including women's rights, justice and empowerment
On 26 November, the Assembly discussed 16 Days of Activism, a global campaign against gender-based violence which highlights how violence against women endangers our societies and undermines the core

Planning

Planning articles will be published here when available.

Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Image showing map of Northern Ireland parliamentary constitutencies
The interactive map highlights the locations (spatial areas) in each of the 18 constituencies where the impact of proposed changes to PIP are likely to be most pronounced.
Image: StockVault, Mohamed Hassan
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) provides an indication of the economic health of a country, but examining happiness can give a clearer picture of the experiences of people living with