Research and Information Service

Management of Algal Blooms
This research paper considers management options to prevent and control freshwater algal blooms.

Election Report: Westminster General Election, 4 July 2024
This paper presents an analysis of the Westminster General Election, held on 4 July 2024, and compares the outcome with that of the 2019 election. The paper also includes trends over time in voter turnout and results by party and constituency. 

Transition planning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disability

This Briefing Paper has been prepared for the Committee for Education, to provide an overview of the transition planning process for pupils with special educational needs and/or a disability. The paper commences with consideration of relevant legislation and strategies in Northern Ireland, including current policy developments that may impact the transition planning process. The Paper then considers the legislation and policy in the rest of the UK that underpins the transition of young people with SEND into adulthood.

Understanding ADHD Care: Exploring Assessment Waiting Times, NICE Recommendations and Care Pathways in the UK and RoI

This paper provides an overview of ADHD in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, including prevalence rates among children and adults. The paper explores the challenges that recent increases in demand for ADHD services present for service providers and patients, the extent of delays in accessing an ADHD assessment, developments in NICE guidance, and recent developments in diagnosis and treatment policies.

Responding to Youth Vaping: The UK Experience

This paper provides an overview of the current perspectives on the health and environmental considerations of vapes, as well as the efforts to reduce their use among children and young people across the UK.

Innovate UK Contracts for Innovation (formerly SBRI)
This briefing note provides details on Innovate UK Contracts for Innovation (formerly the Small Business Research Initiative or SBRI) including scope, competitions and case studies from Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill
This paper has been prepared to inform consideration of the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill which completed its Second Stage on 3 June 2024.  The Bill contains provisions to confer regulation making powers to the Department for Communities to facilitate the implementation of reforms to Automatic Enrolment.

Legislative consent motions
This briefing paper presents an overview of the latest discussions and developments around the Sewel Convention and legislative consent.

Executive Budget 2024-25:Northern Ireland Economic Context (Paper 3 of 3)

This Briefing Paper aims to facilitate Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Northern Ireland Assembly committees and plenaries, when considering the Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2024-25.

Executive Budget 2024-25: Allocations (Paper 2 of 3) 

This Briefing Paper aims to facilitate Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Northern Ireland Assembly committees and plenaries, when considering the Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2024-25.

Executive Budget 2024-25: Context Setting for 24-25 Northern Ireland Executive Budget (Paper 1 of 3)

This Briefing Paper aims to facilitate Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Northern Ireland Assembly committees and plenaries, when considering the Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2024-25.

Government data reporting on self-employment trends from 2019–2024
This Briefing Paper, prepared at the request of the Committee for the Economy, examines trends in official statistics of individuals classifying as self-employed from 2019 to 2024.

Motor insurance premiums in the United Kingdom
This Briefing Paper, requested by the Committee for Infrastructure, provides background information and data on motor insurance premiums across the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland.

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Large Language Models
This paper outlines the main differences between artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning and large language models. The regulatory approach of the United Kingdom and the potential challenges are also detailed. In addition, specific use cases for large language models in research are explored. 

Artificial Intelligence Regulation, Use and Innovation in the United Kingdom: a broad overview
This Briefing Paper, requested by the Committee for the Economy, provides a broad overview of AI (Artificial Intelligence) regulation, use and innovation in the United Kingdom, to inform the Committee’s initial consideration of this area.  Included are regulatory frameworks at United Kingdom and Northern Ireland governmental levels, with a comparative look at the European Union’s and the United States of America’s regulatory approaches.  The paper outlines AI deployment in public sector. Where available, the Paper highlights governmental data reporting on key potential economic impacts of AI deployment.

Children's Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

This paper provides an overview of the Children's Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015. It commences with an introduction to co-operation and then turns to the enablers and barriers of effective co-operation. The paper presents some examples of co-operation in education in Northern Ireland, and considers whether the full potential of the Act is being realised.

Translink use of public funds: initial observations

This Briefing Paper, prepared for the Committee for Infrastructure, highlights current governance and financial arrangements that are relevant to Translink use of public funds, in light of recent evidence sessions and related correspondence with Assembly statutory committees; and makes some initial observations, to help inform the Committee’s further consideration in this area.

Support for Unpaid Carers in Northern Ireland: a preliminary consideration

This Briefing Paper, prepared for the Committee for the Economy, identifies a number of key issues in relation to support for unpaid carers in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland external trade in goods and services - 2013-22 governmental data
This Briefing Paper highlights key governmental data reporting on Northern Ireland’s external trade, taking a specific look at the value and share of that trade in key markets, disaggregated by industry.

An overview of algal bloom in Lough Neagh
This paper considers the causes, impacts and potential remediations for the 2023 Lough Neagh blue-green algae bloom.

Issues under consideration by procedures committees in other legislatures
This briefing paper has been prepared for the Committee on Procedures. It highlights issues under consideration and/or recently considered by procedures committees in other legislatures.

Zebra mussels in Northern Ireland
This paper gives an introduction to the impacts and control of the zebra mussel, an invasive alien species found in water bodies across the island of Ireland. It outlines vectors and routes for further spread into un-infested waters and discusses proactive and reactive measures to limit spread and remove existing infestations. It also provides an overview of existing legislation which applies to zebra mussels in Northern Ireland, Ireland, the UK and the EU

Northern Ireland economic overview

This Briefing Paper has been prepared for the incoming Committee for the Economy, to provide an overview of the Northern Ireland economy as of early March 2024. Drawing on the most recent available data, it looks at areas in which Northern Ireland’s economy is performing well and highlights some challenges facing it. 

Committee engagement with 2023/24 departmental budgets

This Briefing Paper aims to facilitate Northern Ireland Assembly committees (statutory committees and Audit Committee), when engaging with departments near the end of the current financial year - 2023/24 – and in anticipation of a (draft) Executive Budget 2024/25 for the next financial year commencing 1 April 2024.

Brexit Outcomes and Northern Ireland: A Reading List - Updated

The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which is the part of the EU-UK withdrawal agreement, addresses the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland. The ‘Windsor Framework: A New Way Forward’, which was agreed in principle on 27 February 2023, amends the Protocol and includes a new procedure: the ‘Stormont Brake’.

The UK Government has recently published a Command Paper ‘Safeguarding the Union’ which sets out a range of measures designed to strengthen the operation of the UK internal market.

When compiling this reading list, an attempt has been made to select commentary, analysis and media coverage which has particular relevance to the specific context of Northern Ireland. The list also includes strategically important documents, such as the published positions of the UK and Irish governments and the EU institutions.