Dr Ian Shuttleworth (QUB): Religious denomination is a key element in understanding Northern Ireland society and politics, as it is often equated with national identity and voting intentions. It is also significant in informing debates about equality and resource allocation. Usually it is understood as a two-group ‘green and orange’ issue – Protestants/Unionists and Roman … Read more
RaISe (the Research and Information Service in the Northern Ireland Assembly) is working with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and UK parliamentary partners – the Houses of Parliament’s POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology), SPICe (the Scottish Parliament Information Centre) and the National Assembly for Wales Research Service – to publicise the open call … Read more
Mr David Coyles, Prof Brandon Hamber and Dr Adrian Grant (Ulster) – The “peace-walls” are particularly symbolic of the role that architecture plays in separating residential communities and a comprehensive scholarship continues to assess their effects. This presentation outlines original findings from a three-year multi-disciplinary academic research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research … Read more
Prof Roger Austin (Ulster) and Prof Rhiannon Turner (QUB) – This presentation focuses on how new research evidence can be used to make shared education more sustainable and more accessible for more children. Shared education has been adopted as policy by the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. It is based on the hope that the … Read more
Mr John Garry (QUB) and Mr Kevin McNicholl (QUB): This presentation outlines key findings of research that used census and survey data to examine the ‘Northern Irish’ identity. The presentation first provides a demographic profile of Northern Irish identifiers: are they different from ‘Irish’ and ‘British’ identifiers in terms of gender, age, social class, educational … Read more
Dr Nicola Carr and Dr Siobhán McAlister (QUB): Reform of the youth justice system, including the wide incorporation of restorative justice approaches, was a central component of the Criminal Justice Review (2000). Following the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly, the Youth Justice Review (2011) made a series of recommendations for further … Read more
Ms Lesley Emerson, Dr Karen Orr and Prof Paul Connolly (QUB): ‘Prison to Peace’ is an educational programme which assists young people in exploring the conflict and its legacy through the narratives of politically motivated former prisoners. A cluster randomised controlled trial evaluation of the initiative, funded by the Office of First Minister and deputy … Read more
Dr Sarah Eardley-Weaver (QUB): Media accessibility and social inclusion are increasingly prominent issues in today’s rapidly developing technological and multicultural world, as reflected in legislation and in a growing social awareness of inclusion as a fundamental human right. However, there remains a lack of promotion and awareness of the accessibility facilities for the blind and … Read more
Dr Paul McKenzie (Ulster) – Fuel poverty is a significant issue across Europe and a particular problem within the UK and Ireland. Fuel poverty occurs when insufficient funds are available to pay for a warm and comfortable home. Households affected by fuel poverty are at risk of physical and mental health difficulties and are linked … Read more
Dr Mark Simpson (Ulster) – The protection of human dignity and poverty reduction are core functions of social security. Changes to working age benefits since 2010 have reduced claimants’ incomes, putting more people at risk of poverty and arguably reducing the ability of the system to support a dignified standard of living. Human rights law … Read more