Research and Information Service

Legacy Processes in the Republic of Ireland

This paper provides an overview of official processes in the Republic of Ireland in relation to the Legacy of the Troubles. This includes notable official Inquiries undertaken by the Irish State, the State’s involvement in cross-border Inquiries, and an overview of Governmental Commitments to addressing Legacy.
This paper contains mentions of distressing incidents.

Remuneration of members in other legislatures - update

This briefing paper has been prepared to inform the work of the Independent Remuneration Board. It provides updated information on members’ salaries in other legislatures, reflecting changes since the publication of NIAR 18-2025.

Sign Language Legislation: Translation costs and enforcement mechanisms

In response to a Communities Committee information request, this briefing note outlines the enforcement and compliance mechanisms in the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and Welsh translation cost considerations under the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill 2025.

Comparing Direct Payments, Vouchers and Support Schemes for sign language interpretation

This briefing paper provides a comparison of publicly funded sign language interpretation supports for social activities in England, Ireland and Finland with Northern Ireland. It is intended to support the Communities Committee in its scrutiny of the Sign Language Bill (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Reconciliation: Good Practice and Reconciliation Processes from other Jurisdictions

This briefing paper provides an overview of the definition of reconciliation, theoretical good practice when designing reconciliation systems and two case studies of where reconciliation systems have been used in Canada and Peru.
This paper contains details of distressing incidents.

Environmental Principles within policy making – origins and application in GB and Ireland

A brief overview of the origins of Environmental Principles and their application in the policy making process in GB and Ireland

General Teaching Council Bill Paper

This Bill Paper provides an overview of the General Teaching Council Bill as introduced to the Assembly on 24 November 2025. The paper outlines the background to the Bill and also identifies those areas within the Bill which may merit further consideration. Where relevant, it compares similar areas of responsibility held by regulatory bodies in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Planning Decision Times – comparison across the UK and Ireland

A comparison of planning decision times across the UK jurisdictions and Ireland. The paper provides a snapshot of decision times in NI using statistics published by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI). Where possible, it provides some comparisons of the decision times with the other jurisdictions, highlighting some of the limitations in performing the exercise. The final section provides some additional information on more recent developments in relation to the planning systems in other jurisdictions.

Costing requirements for Private Members’ Bills: Houses of the Oireachtas

This Briefing Paper - commissioned by the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee on Procedures - outlines key existing procedural rules and processes relating to Private Member Bill costing requirements in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

RHI (Closure of the Non Domestic Scheme) Bill: supplementary – overview of the Republic of Ireland’s Support Scheme for Renewable Heat

This Briefing Note seeks to support the Committee for the Economy’s scrutiny of the Renewable Heat Incentive (Closure of the Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill.  It provides an overview of the Republic of Ireland’s Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and compares that Scheme’s inspection regime with what currently is known about the RHI Closure inspection regime that subsequently would be introduced in Northern Ireland via draft Affirmative Regulations if the Bill is enacted as introduced.

Cost of Assembly Written Questions

In response to a request from the Committee on Procedures, this briefing paper outlines available information relating to the cost of answering written questions.

US Trade Tariffs: key changes & initial considerations for Northern Ireland -  supplementary

This Briefing Paper provides an update on changes to US Trade Tariffs since June 2025 and identifies initial considerations arising from those changes for Northern Ireland businesses.

Costing requirements for Members’ Bills: a comparative perspective across the United Kingdom

This Briefing Paper - commissioned by the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee on Procedures - outlines any key existing procedural rules and processes relating to Member Bill costing requirements in the Assembly, the United Kingdom House of Commons, the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd Cymru, providing a comparative perspective.

The Real Living Wage in Northern Ireland

An update of a previous paper concerning those paid below the Real Living Wage (RLW) in Northern Ireland. As requested, the paper includes a breakdown by gender, and full-time / part-time employment status for the eleven local district council areas. Any regional disparities that exist are also highlighted in the Paper.

Decoding phonics: a primer on teaching literacy in Northern Ireland

This Research Paper provides an overview of phonics as a method for teaching literacy, examining its various forms and comparing it with alternative approaches such as whole language and balanced literacy. It explores the research landscape surrounding phonics, considers its role within the Northern Ireland curriculum and offers comparisons from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

US Trade Tariffs: key changes & initial considerations for Northern Ireland 

This Briefing Paper sets out a timeline of key changes (actual and currently proposed) to American trade tariff policy; and highlights potential impacts arising for Northern Ireland, including government and business, if such changes are implemented.