National Minimum Wage: Effects and future
18th December 2019
Do you know the hourly minimum wage rates for workers in Northern Ireland? Currently, the rates are determined under three separate schemes: the ‘National Living
Latest Articles
Browse all the articles published on the Research Matters blog, with the most recent articles appearing at the top.
Northern Ireland public finances: An update
5th December 2019
This blog article provides an update on Northern Ireland public finances in the absence of fully functioning devolved government. It explains recently enacted budget legislation
Suicide statistics and strategy in Northern Ireland: Update
28th November 2019
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
Brexit and Northern Ireland: Reading List #27
4th October 2019
Please note: This version of the Brexit and Northern Ireland reading list has now been superseded. For the very latest version, please see here.
Free periods? Period poverty, its impact on education, and policy responses to the issue
5th September 2019
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
Is Northern Ireland ‘Open’ for business? Examining the social and economic impact of sporting events
2nd July 2019
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
Is coercive control a crime?
27th June 2019
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
What exactly are the air pollution impacts on health?
20th June 2019
The impacts and dangers associated with air pollution are becoming increasingly recognised. Around 28,000 to 40,000 deaths per year are estimated to be attributable to
Plastics in the sea: Part two – policy for plastics
18th June 2019
This blog article is the second in a series of two which discusses the issue of marine plastic waste in Northern Ireland (NI), based on
Plastics in the sea: Part one – the plastic problem
17th June 2019
This blog article is the first in a series of two which discusses the issue of marine plastic waste in Northern Ireland (NI), based on
Is Northern Ireland underrated? Examining the context for a review of our rating system
6th June 2019
On 9 May 2019 the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Finance (DoF) announced a fresh appraisal of the fundamental features of the Northern Ireland
What next for the environment, Brexit and cross-border co-operation?
23rd May 2019
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
Farmers and mental health
15th May 2019
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
Keeping up with technology: Upskirting and the law in Northern Ireland
1st May 2019
Last month, a new law came into force in England and Wales making upskirting a criminal offence. Upskirting involves taking a photo or
A comparison of the planning systems in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
15th April 2019
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
Northern Ireland trade in goods, 2018
8th April 2019
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
Regional devolution for Northern Ireland: What’s the big deal?
4th April 2019
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
Who regulates health and social care services in Northern Ireland?
29th March 2019
This article provides a broad introduction to the complex landscape of formal regulation of health care in Northern Ireland (NI). It also includes reference to
What is the Gender Pay Gap in Northern Ireland in 2019?
8th March 2019
By Michael Scholes & Aidan Stennett To highlight International Women’s Day, this blog article updates a previous one examining the Gender Pay Gap in Northern
Who runs Northern Ireland? Taking stock of gender and power in Northern Ireland
8th March 2019
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
A demographic profile of Northern Ireland in 2017
7th February 2019
This paper presents a brief demographic profile of Northern Ireland, updating a previous article on this subject in 2016. It shows emerging trends in the
We don’t need no education!
27th November 2018
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
Celebrating GIS in the Northern Ireland Assembly
14th November 2018
Please note: this article was edited on 11.2.20 with up-to-date GIS maps showing travel distances to GP practices for 2015 and 2020. Geographical Information Systems
EU exit regulations and Northern Ireland
26th October 2018
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
A brief overview of the Northern Ireland Assembly Library
10th October 2018
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
Brexit and Northern Ireland: Reading List #13 – approaching the endgame?
1st October 2018
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
Measuring museum success: How and why?
12th September 2018
Northern Ireland (NI) currently has 44 Accredited museums. But how does this compare with elsewhere and how should we go about assessing whether our museums
Where and why does Invest NI invest in NI?
7th August 2018
This post examines financial support provided by Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) to businesses located in Northern Ireland (NI) from 2013-14 to 2017-18, identifying key
Carers in Northern Ireland: Some key statistics
26th July 2018
This article is a revised and updated version of a post originally published in June 2017. The perceived underfunding of social care was a significant
Supporting carers in Northern Ireland: Where are we with legislation and policy?
24th July 2018
This article is a revised and updated version of a post originally published in June 2017. This article outlines the contribution made by carers to
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