Latest Articles

Browse all the articles published on the Research Matters blog, with the most recent articles appearing at the top.

Sample form used by applicants for direct payments (DAERA)

What now for direct support to farmers in Northern Ireland post-Brexit?

22nd March 2017

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

An image of a figure with their hands over their face

Mental health and illness in Northern Ireland (3): Barriers to accessing mental health services and the role of the voluntary sector

21st March 2017

This is the third in a series of articles on mental health and illness in Northern Ireland. Following posts on the overall strategies for mental health

Two masks illustrating contrasting states of mind (image: Pixabay)

Mental health and illness in Northern Ireland (2): Service provision, care pathways, recovery focus

21st March 2017

This is the second in a series of articles regarding mental health and illness in Northern Ireland. Recently, we provided an overview of mental health

Artist’s Impression of Belfast’s proposed ‘Transport Hub’ which has already received EU TEN-T funding during the planning phase and would have been eligible to compete for money as it moved into the capital phase.

How can the Department for Infrastructure fund delivery of its infrastructure pipeline?

20th March 2017

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.

A look back at the dualling of the A1; the main route between Belfast-Newry-Dublin. The new north-bound carriageway is on the left and carrying two-way traffic while the new south-bound carriageway is under construction on the right. The road opened on 23 November 2006.

Has transport investment been a priority for the Northern Ireland Executive? A comparison of transport expenditure across the UK

20th March 2017

Overall public spending per capita is higher in Northern Ireland than in any of the other UK regions. However, the proportion which is spent on

Reference volumes on political theory in the Assembly Library

Transferred votes in the March 2017 Assembly Election

16th March 2017

Transferred votes are an extremely important part of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. In the 2017 Assembly Election, only 18 MLAs had a sufficient

Art therapy (image Save the Children under Creative Commons)

Allied Health Professions in Northern Ireland: Their role in reform of primary and community care

15th March 2017

This article looks at the issues faced by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in Northern Ireland in supporting patients in primary and community care. It sets

Edwardian chimneys in Belfast

‘Housing First’: An alternative approach to addressing homelessness?

14th March 2017

Homelessness strategies across Europe have traditionally focused on a housing-led approach. This approach prioritises treatment and addiction recovery. Service users transition through stages of temporary accommodation

Blurred image of multiple faces

The many faces of homelessness in Northern Ireland

13th March 2017

Homelessness is a highly emotive issue and attention on the plight of those who are homeless in Northern Ireland has gained particular momentum over recent

A set of stars in the shape of the Flag of Europe, with one missing

After Brexit – what will remain?

10th March 2017

Following the referendum in June 2016, the UK Prime Minister has stated that Article 50, the trigger mechanism for withdrawal from the EU, will be

The word 'budget' spelled in Scrabble tiles

Who has the power of the purse if the Assembly does not agree a budget?

9th March 2017

Piecing together a budget is one of the most fundamental activities of government. But in Northern Ireland (NI) there is currently neither a government nor

Infographic illustrating the scale of the gender pay gap in Northern Ireland

How big is the gender pay gap in NI’s public and private sectors?

8th March 2017

By Aidan Stennett & Eóin Murphy Please note: we have posted a new version of this blog article using the most recent data, see here. This

The plenary chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The representation of women in public life: where does Northern Ireland stand (now)?

8th March 2017

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

Mental health and illness word cloud

Mental health and illness in Northern Ireland (1): Overview – related strategy and reports

8th March 2017

This article is the first in a series looking at mental health and illness in Northern Ireland, covering relevant reviews, policies, reports, services, treatments and

An image showing a child in a thumbs up pose

Cross-border child protection in the EU

6th March 2017

A significant number of European Union laws and policies have a direct role in protecting and promoting children’s rights. What has the EU achieved in

Pharmacist assisting a customer (Creative Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pharmacist_assisting_a_customer_at_Terry_White_Chemists.jpg)

Northern Ireland’s health crisis: can pharmacists relieve the pressure on GPs?

6th March 2017

The growing pressure on primary healthcare services is reported in the media on an almost daily basis – a key reason being that people are

Breastfeeding welcome here?

16th January 2017

Breastfeeding in public is often a topic for debate. Although a very personal decision for parents, breastfeeding in public spaces is viewed as a social

Copy of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Economic Strategy and the Programme for Government Consultation Document

A revised strategy for Northern Ireland’s Economy

6th December 2016

By Eóin Murphy, Michael Scholes, and Aidan Stennett The Northern Ireland Executive is currently revising its Economic Strategy. What are the key factors it should

International Day of Persons with Disability

2nd December 2016

Tomorrow is International Day of Persons with Disability. Coordinated by the United Nations, this event has been celebrated since 1992. Many different groups, organisations and

A mole emerging from molehill (image by Stefan Didam and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons)

Autumn Statement 2016: a fiscal molehill?

2nd December 2016

Has the Chancellor’s statement had the mountainous impact on the Executive’s budget that was expected?

A word cloud for Explanatory and Financial Memoranda

How good are Northern Ireland’s Explanatory and Financial Memoranda?

17th November 2016

In the 2011-16 Assembly Mandate, MLAs debated, scrutinised and passed a range of legislation across a number of policy areas – from Mental Capacity to

A car involved in a road traffic collision being towed (Image: Pixabay)

Fatal and serious road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland

16th November 2016

It is difficult to grasp the full extent of what is portrayed by road traffic collision statistics. Each statistic represents a human being and, in

After FDAC: A recent report on the outcomes of family drug and alcohol courts in England

What are ‘Family, Drug and Alcohol Courts’ and are they effective?

11th November 2016

The draft Programme for Government contains a commitment to running a pilot family drug and alcohol court in Northern Ireland. Such courts have been used

Image by Jonathan Billinger and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons

How could the Brexit vote affect farming and food in Northern Ireland?

24th October 2016

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

Blue and yellow pills: There may have to be a change to the marketing authorisation of medicinal products for human use once the UK leaves the EU

What are the potential implications of withdrawal from the EU for healthcare in Northern Ireland?

19th October 2016

The Assembly Research and Information Service (RaISe) recently published a paper which provided an update on developments following the EU referendum on 23rd June. In

Students from Shimna College visiting the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Northern Ireland Assembly and the School Curriculum

17th October 2016

The Assembly Education Service engaged with more than 80,000 young people during the last mandate. The aim of this work is to inform young people

An image of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Election 2016: An analysis of results and transfers

12th October 2016

Yesterday, we published a post which examined the 2016 Assembly election results in terms of candidates and voter turnout. This post, the second in the

A polling station (Image: Paul Albertella under Creative Commons)

Election 2016: Candidates and voter turnout

11th October 2016

The fifth Assembly election since the return of devolution in 1998 took place on 5 May 2016. The DUP consolidated its position as the largest

Rathlin Island, one of 57 SACs in Northern Ireland (Image: Colin Park under Creative Commons Licence)

The EU and the environment

7th October 2016

How might leaving the European Union impact on environmental policy, funding and legislation in Northern Ireland?

Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast, incorporating the High Court (Image: Suzanne Mischyshyn, Creative Commons)

Another week of Brexit-related developments

7th October 2016

This week has seen a number of announcements made which will have a bearing on the process of UK withdrawal from the EU.