L&RS Notes Series - 2016
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European Union Data Protection Law and Policy
Published 27 October 2016
This L&RS Note provides an overview of European Union (‘EU’) law and policy in the area of data protection. Technological advances not only generate trade and investment but are also impacting on the right to privacy of the individual and the right to data protection. As a result of a number of recent developments in the area, data protection has become a big policy issue within the EU.
The Irish language – a linguistic crisis? (Irish version)
Published November 2016
Dréachtaíodh an Nóta seo i gcomhthéacs an Chláir um Rialtas Compháirtíochta agus an Chomhchoiste Oireachtais a bunaíodh le déanaí chun díriú ar an nGaeilge. Scrúdaíonn sé an staid ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge go náisiúnta agus leagann sé amach cás sainiúil na Gaeltachta agus an ghéarchéim shochtheangeolaíoch atá ag tarlú ansin.
A tax on sugar sweetened drinks: an overview
Published October 2016
This Note examines the proposals for a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in Ireland, the policy context and some of the evidence on the effectiveness of such a tax.
Minority Governments and Parliament
Published 04 October 2016
This L&RS Note outlines how minority governments build and implement majorities in support of their legislative and policy programmes (Section 2). It uses examples from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand and Spain, where minority government is common, setting out the types of support agreements reached and the mechanisms used to implement them (Section 3).
The Irish language – a linguistic crisis? (English version)
Published September 2016
This Note has been drafted in the context of the Programme for a Partnership Government and the recent establishment of a Joint Oireachtas Committee focussing on the Irish language. It examines the situation of the Irish language from a national perspective and outlines the special situation of the Gaeltacht and the socio-linguistic crisis unfolding there
Caretaker governments and caretaker conventions
Published 28 June 2016
This L&RS Note looks at the concepts of caretaker governments and caretaker conventions:
1. Caretaker governments in Ireland and an introduction to caretaker conventions;
2. Caretaker governments and conventions in other parliamentary democracies; and
3. Role of incoming parliament during the caretaker government (including Dáil Eireann).
Prayers in plenary and other religious services in Parliaments
Published 10 May 2016
This L&RS Note outlines practices concerning prayers at the beginning of plenary sessions and arrangements for holding other religious services in a selection of parliaments.
D’Hondt system for allocation of parliamentary positions
Published 22 March 2016
This L&RS Note outlines how the D’Hondt system works, provides examples of where it is used and describes how it is used in Northern Ireland for the allocation of ministries in the Executive and committee chairs in the Assembly. It also provides a worked example of how D’Hondt could be used to allocate committee chairs in the 32nd Dáil based on the election results (February 2016).
Election Turnout in Ireland: measurement, trends and policy implications
Published 28 January 2016
This Note discusses issues with the measurement of turnout, using data from the CSO on the voting-age population, before presenting an overview of the trends in turnout at Irish General Elections, local elections and referendums, including available data on the variation in turnout across different groups (age and socio-economic background). It then gives voter turnout at European elections, comparing Ireland with other European countries. The Note concludes by presenting survey data designed to explain non-voting and briefly considers policies designed to address low levels of turnout and participation in conventional politics.