This is a tag applied to all posts published before May 2022. This is because they are all using the same single post template that won’t be used on new posts going forward.
Local government underwent significant structural change in 2015 with the number of councils reducing from 26 to 11, and the transfer of many functions from central to local government. This has brought changes to the ways in which the environment is managed. In 2016, these changes have continued with a reorganisation of Executive functions.
The Belfast Agreement in 1998 contained a comprehensive suite of human rights safeguards. These include the introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to be accessible in Northern Ireland courts, establishment of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, consultation by the Commission on any additional rights supplementary to the ECHR to constitute a Bill of Rights and prohibition of the Northern Ireland Assembly to legislate in any way contrary to the ECHR or any Bill of Rights.
Read More »Human Rights in Northern Ireland: What if the Human Rights Act were repealed?
Please note: we have posted a new version of this blog article using the most recent data, see here.
This article presents a brief demographic profile of Northern Ireland, showing emerging trends in the population, and comparisons with other United Kingdom (UK) countries, the Republic of Ireland, and the European Union (EU).
Read More »A demographic profile of Northern Ireland in 2016
Everything happens somewhere. How does the Northern Ireland Assembly’s in-house geographic information service help Members analyse and visualise complex data?
Over 80% of data used by our public sector services – environment, health, education, security, construction, transport, agriculture, heritage, sport and employment – has a geographic element e.g. an address or a coordinate. All these can be mapped. The advantage of mapping information rather than producing a table of information is that it allows users to easily review, analyse, visualise and understand previously unseen patterns, gaps, issues or problems. Analysing data in this way can lead to improved decision making. Examples of the kinds of geographical analysis produced by the Research and Information Service can be seen in figures 1 and 2.
Across the developed world, governments are striving to transform how they deliver and manage health and social care in a way which is fit for a modern context. That context includes the increasing demands placed on these services by ageing populations (often living with multi-morbidities), constrained resources, technological advances and rising patient expectations.
Northern Ireland has not been immune to these increased demands and to the realisation of the need for real strategic change in delivery and suitable governance of its health and social care services.
Read More »Transforming Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland: A Recent History
Farm incomes over the last five years in Northern Ireland have shown considerable volatility and this presents challenges for the long- term sustainability of the industry, both within and beyond the new Assembly mandate.
A referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU is to take place on Thursday 23rd June. Voters will be asked ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’ This blog post looks at the possible trade implications for Northern Ireland of a UK exit from the EU.
Read More »What are the trade implications for Northern Ireland of the UK leaving the EU?
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