Governance
Democracy and Government
Who runs Northern Ireland? Taking stock of gender and power in Northern Ireland
Reading Time: 4 minutes Please note that more up-to-date statistics on gender representation can be found in the RaISe research paper Who Runs Northern Ireland? A Summary of Statistics Relating to Gender and Power in 2020. The late feminist
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
Justice
Is coercive control a crime?
Reading Time: 4 minutes In 2016 a man called Lance Hart shot his wife Claire and daughter Charlotte outside a swimming pool in Lincolnshire, England, before turning his shotgun on himself. Some of the media coverage of the murder
Keeping up with technology: Upskirting and the law in Northern Ireland
Reading Time: 6 minutes Last month, a new law came into force in England and Wales making upskirting a criminal offence. Upskirting involves taking a photo or video under a person’s clothes without their consent in order
European Arrest Warrant: What next for Northern Ireland post-Brexit?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Mutual recognition and co-operation underpin many EU law provisions. This article looks at some of the legislative options for one particular provision following Brexit; the European Arrest Warrant (EAW).
Planning
COVID-19 and planning measures
Reading Time: 7 minutes This article explores the temporary planning measures introduced as a response to COVID-19 across the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI). Some of these measures have, and will, require urgent legislative change, while other aspects
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
Planning in a new environment
Reading Time: 3 minutes The planning system has undergone much change recently, so what are the new structures and how has the balance of responsibility shifted between central and local government?
Statistics & GIS
Foodbank distribution in Northern Ireland
Reading Time: < 1 minute Foodbanks are an increasingly useful resource for many in Northern Ireland. They provide a valuable service to communities and are continually helping to feed those in need. An interactive mapping application has been developed which
Can surveys be supplemented and improved by social media based research? A case study of the Young Life & Times Survey
Reading Time: 4 minutes Sample opinion surveys are a well-established way to measure public opinion on contemporary affairs. However, the exponential growth of social media in the 21st century opens new possibilities in social research. This post considers the
Is it possible to socially distance on our beaches?
Reading Time: 2 minutes With many international travel restrictions still in place, more people than ever will be opting for ‘staycations’ in Northern Ireland. This article provides the results of a spatial analysis looking at whether social distancing is