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
Latest Articles
Browse all the articles published on the Research Matters blog, with the most recent articles appearing at the top.
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
‘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
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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The EU and the environment
7th October 2016
How might leaving the European Union impact on environmental policy, funding and legislation in Northern Ireland?
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.
The courts and the EU Referendum: a week of action
30th September 2016
The past seven days have seen significant developments in relation to EU referendum related action in the courts at both local and UK level. This
What could the draft BBC Charter mean for Northern Ireland?
27th September 2016
A draft BBC Charter and Framework Agreement has been published, but what’s in it for Northern Ireland and will proposed changes to governance arrangements be
‘Good Relations’ in Northern Ireland
26th September 2016
Are we still sectarian, or the ‘race-hate capital’?
Dealing with the past in Northern Ireland
22nd September 2016
One area that has created considerable political division in Northern Ireland is how to deal with a contested past. Broadly, ‘dealing with the past’ tends
A clear and present danger: Plant disease and invasive species
19th September 2016
The plant disease and invasive species threat posed to the environment in Northern Ireland is increasing, and likely to continue to do so due to