Number |
Title |
| 34/11 |
Outline of Consultation for Draft Regulations for Signs and Warning Lights on School Buses with analysis of Regulatory Impact Assessment
Currently under Regulation 17 (1), subject to paragraph (2), of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (NI) 2000, buses carrying children must display a clearly visible sign to front and rear of the bus. This applies to contracted buses i.e. those secured by department to deliver a school service and Education and Library Board (ELB) vehicles. This regulation does not apply to routine stage carriage services provided by translink who do not differentiate between school children and the general public on these services. |
| 33/11 |
The Sea Fishing industry in Northern Ireland – issues, challenges and opportunities.
This paper sets out some of the issues affecting the Sea Fishing industry within Northern Ireland both at present and in the near future. As such, this paper does not seek to present solutions to the issues but rather attempts to quantify and pin down many of the key challenges that fishing communities and those who live and work within them face.
|
| 32/11 |
Lough Foyle – ownership, licensing, and levy issues relating to shellfish.
Covering an area of approximately 186km² Lough Foyle is a shallow estuarine sea Lough straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Lough has supported active salmon, oyster and mussel fisheries for hundreds of years and these fisheries continue to be important to the local economy on both sides of the border.
|
| 31/11 |
The Horse as an Agricultural animal – implications and opportunities for the equine industry in N.I.
Within Northern Ireland there are estimated to be more than 35,000 horses and ponies and the equine industry as a whole here is estimated to employ the full time equivalent of 5,657 people equating to an annual labour value of c£54 million .Currently within Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK the horse is not defined as an agricultural animal.
|
| 30/11 |
Rural Development issues and challenges in Northern Ireland
This paper while not definitive, highlights and indicates a range of issues that may need to be addressed if the undoubted potential of rural communities and their citizens are to be fully utilised.
|
| 29/11 |
Assessing the value and impact of museums
This research paper sets out a summary of recent attempts to assess the impact and value of museums across the UK and Ireland. Both economic and social impacts are considered, and the methodologies adopted by such assessments are discussed. Two case studies are used to highlight how economic and social impacts can be assessed in practice, and the lessons learned from each exercise are described.
|
| 28/11 |
Education budgets in other jurisdictions
This research paper considers the recent education budgets for England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. It finds that budgetary reductions will be made to education across a range of areas across the jurisdictions, with capital spending, central administration and public sector pay commonly targeted areas for savings.
|
| 27/11 |
Parliamentary privilege
This research paper examines the concept of parliamentary privilege as it exists at Westminster and compares this to the more limited legal protections and immunities enjoyed by the devolved institutions. The paper also considers the nature and handling of breaches of privilege and contempt.
|
| 26/11 |
Heritage and Cultural Rights: International Standards
This paper sets out a summary of the international, European and domestic instruments which deal with cultural rights. The relationship between cultural rights instruments and cultural heritage is examined.
|
| 25/11 |
Analysis of Museums Policy Consultation Responses
This Briefing Paper provides a brief analysis of the responses received by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) as part of the consultation exercise on a draft museums policy, Museums Policy for Northern Ireland , released for consultation between 24 July and 30 September 2010.
|
| 24/11 |
Foreign National Prisoners
This paper provides an overview of the numbers of foreign prisoners in Northern Ireland and the offences committed.
|
| 23/11 |
Immigration Detention and Removal in Northern Ireland
Immigration is a reserved matter in terms of the Northern Ireland Assembly, but there are impacts on the devolved administration with regard to immigration operations in this jurisdiction, which are outlined in this this paper
|
| 22/11 |
Public Petitioning in Legislatures in the UK and Ireland
This paper examines the public petitioning systems that operate in the Scottish Parliament; the National Assembly for Wales; both houses of the UK Parliament and both Houses of the Oireachtas.
|
| 21/11 |
Operational aspects of the Northern Ireland Assembly
This briefing paper has been prepared in conjunction with the Business Office and Central Committee Office. It explains how key aspects of the Northern Ireland Assembly operate, including Plenary, business programming, parliamentary language and behaviour and the role of the statutory committees.
|
| 20/11 |
Health and social care: plans, priorities and performance
This paper provides an overview of the high level plans and priorities pertinent to health and social care in Northern Ireland. These plans are inextricably linked to the Budget and include: 1) the Executive?s Programme for Government (PfG) and 2) the DHSSPS Priorities for Action (PFA). The performance of the Department is highlighted in terms of delivering against a number of targets established within the PfG strategy. Given existing efficiency pressures, it is inevitable that the DHSSPS will have to function in an extremely challenging fiscal environment. In turn, several innovative approaches to healthcare delivery are also considered.
|
| 19/11 |
Costs and efficiencies: supporting evidence
This paper provides a brief overview regarding several issues that arose in relation to the Budget where the HSSPS Committee requested further information. These are considered particularly in relation to Northern Ireland and include:
Current levels and cost of obesity;
Reducing unnecessary hospitalisation;
Cost savings from patient reminder systems using mobile phone text messaging;
Reducing health costs in the pharmaceutical sector;
Alternatives to agency staff; and
DHSSPS bid concerning pay award of £250 for staff earning under 21K.
|
| 18/11 |
Mental health: Legislative update
This paper has been prepared in relation to a research query submitted by the Committee for Regional Development. The query relates to the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order (1986) and a provision outlined within the Transport Bill. In response, this paper provides: 1) an overview of the current mental health legislation in Northern Ireland, 2) details of its imminent reform, and 3) an overview of how the NI Order (1986) differs from that in other nearby jurisdictions.
|
| 17/11 |
Economic Impact of Cuts in Annually Managed Expenditure
This paper considers the potential economic impacts of the impending cuts to Annually Managed Expenditure in Northern Ireland. It is shown that there is evidence to indicate that the Coalition Government’s plans in respect of welfare reform are regressive , and will have a particularly detrimental impact upon families with children. Northern Ireland is shown to be particularly vulnerable to these cuts, and, in fact, the evidence indicates that the plans will have a particularly regressive effect locally.
|
| 16/11 |
Autism Bill:
Clause 1: Amendments to Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Clause 1 of the Autism Bill provides for amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (the DDA). This briefing note, which supplements an earlier research paper on the Autism Bill, provides further information to support Members’ consideration of the proposed amendments.
|
| 15/11 |
The DHSSPS budget: where does the money go?
This paper provides some detail about how the budget is used. It provides detail on expenditure by various bodies and also examines some elements of the Health and Social Care (HSC)Trusts? accounts. Some figures on how they utilise the resources allocated to them are presented.
|
| 14/11 |
The DHSSPS Budget 2011-15 Consultation
The Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) published a consultation document on its draft budget allocation on 13 January 2011. This Briefing Note considers some of the issues raised in the document and by the Minister in evidence to the Committee Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
|
| 13/11 |
An Introduction to Welfare Reform
The purpose of this briefing paper is to provide the Committee with a broad overview of the Coalition Government’s plans for Welfare Reform.
|
| 12/11 |
Planning Bill (4):
Implementation, Performance and Decision making: Issues of Capacity, Delivery and Quality
This paper examines issues of capacity, delivery and quality in relation to the Planning Bill. It is one of four papers and follows a common format highlighting the key issues arising in the Bill; summarising the findings of the public consultation and the Government’s response; reviewing comparable arrangements in comparable jurisdictions and highlighting potential contentious issues.
|
| 11/11 |
Draft Budget 2010: DRD Spending Proposals
The aim of this paper is to outline the key points from the budget and the department’s proposed spending and saving delivery plans. Consideration will be given to the impact these proposals will have, particularly on vulnerable groups and any differential impacts will be highlighted.
|
| 10/11 |
Preventative Spending
This paper examines the case for early intervention strategies which are designed to reduce the demand for more expensive intervention or treatment at a later date.
|
| 09/11 |
Planning Bill (3): Community Involvement
This paper looks at the Community Involvement provisions set out in the Planning Bill. It is one of four papers prepared for the Bill, which follow a common format that highlights: the key issues arising in the Bill; summarises the findings of the public consultation and the Government’s response; reviews comparable arrangements in comparable jurisdictions and highlights potential contentious issues that arise.
|
| 08/11 |
Planning Bill (2): Development Management, Planning Control and Enforcement
This paper is the second of four papers produced in support of the Committee stage of the Planning Reform Bill
|
| 07/11 |
Minimum Alcohol Pricing
The purpose of this briefing paper is to assist the Committee for Social Development in its consideration of the issue of minimum alcohol pricing. The paper begins by providing a brief overview of both the extent and impact of alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland; it explores the development of minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland; examines some of the arguments put forward for and against minimum alcohol pricing; and provides a brief outline of some alternatives to minimum pricing such as an increase in alcohol taxation and a ban on below cost sales of alcohol.
|
| 06/11 |
Planning Reform Bill (1): Departmental Functions & Local Development Plans
This paper is the first of four papers produced in support of the Committee stage of the Planning Bill
|
| 05/11 |
Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Bill
This paper provides an overview and discussion of the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Bill.
|
| 04/11 |
Draft Budget 2011-15
This paper presents a critical evaluation of the Northern Ireland Executive’s draft Budget 2011-15. Some procedural questions are highlighted and a number of issues for further clarification are presented.
|
| 03/11 |
Part B: School Engagement with Parents and the Wider Community
As part of the series on Successful Post-Primary Schools Serving Disadvantaged Communities, this briefing paper explores how successful schools serving disadvantaged communities have engaged with parents and the wider community and considers the outcomes of this engagement. It finds that some positive outcomes from engagement have been identified; however it suggests that outcomes are likely to be small-scale in nature. |
| 02/11 |
Part A: Qualities for Effective School Leadership
As part of the series on Successful Post-Primary Schools Serving Disadvantaged Communities, this briefing paper considers the key qualities and attributes of effective school principals, with a particular focus on those in schools serving disadvantaged areas. It finds that successful school leaders share a number of key personal qualities, including people-centred core values, emotional intelligence, resilience and conviction. |
| 01/11 |
Successful Post-Primary Schools Serving Disadvantaged Communities: Overall Summary
This paper summarises the four briefings in this series on Successful Post-Primary Schools Serving Disadvantaged Communities; Qualities for effective school leadership; School engagement with parents and the wider community; Addressing underachievement in disadvantaged communities; and Department of Education school improvement policy. |
