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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 September 2025 the Council of the European Union published a Decision to seek to add the new EU regulation on forced labour to the list of laws
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

An image showing a woman using a laptop screen and looking worried or anxious.
Content notice: This blog article contains references to online harassment, abuse and violence targeting women and girls that some readers may find distressing. High-profile cases such as the Gamergate
A photograph of the front page of the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill
The Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill (‘the Bill’) is currently being considered by the Assembly. This blog article provides a brief
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

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