The Library & Research Service produces a range of impartial research briefings for Members of the Oireachtas.
Our research teams regularly produce:
- Bill Digest briefing papers on proposed Government legislation in advance of Second Stage (since July 2018)
- Short, topical L&RS Notes covering a broad range of topics, facts, statistics and frequently asked questions
- Spotlight research briefings which examine a single topic or policy issue in more depth
- A quarterly Environmental Indicators series that tracks progress on environmental targets
We also produce other research briefings through Oireachtas fellowships and other procurement mechanisms.
On this page you can browse our latest research publications or search by theme.
Our recent research publications
Wed, 15 May 2024
Bill Digest: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022
The Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 provides for the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (“the EU Whistleblowing Directive”) into Irish law. The Bill provides for a number of amendments to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and expands the personal and material scope of the 2014 Act. The Bill also provides for the establishment of internal and external reporting channels and provides for the establishment of an Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner in the Office of the Ombudsman. The Bill also enhances the protections for workers who suffer penalisation as a result of making a protected disclosure. [Keywords: Justice and crime, Business and industry]
Mon, 13 May 2024
Bill Digest: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024
The Bill Digest examines the proposed new supports for survivors of residential institutional abuse provided for under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 and on a non-legislative basis, and the extent to which they address the priority needs of survivors. [Keywords: People and communities, Justice and crime, Education]
Mon, 13 May 2024
Bill Digest – Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024
The main purposes of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024 is, firstly, to provide for the establishment of statutory External Oversight Body for the Defence Forces, thereby giving effect to one of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality in the Defence Forces. Secondly, the Bill provides for a statutory framework for consent to be granted by the Minister to the representative bodies of the Permanent Defence Forces to associate with ICTU. Thirdly, the Bill provides for a number of amendments to the Defence Acts and the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. [Keywords: Defence, Parliament]
Infographics
Infographics
We produce infographics showing useful summaries of our research, including our Economic Indicators, a series of monthly infographics which present key indicators on the Irish economy.
Constituencies
Constituency profiles
We have published individual profiles about each of the 39 Dáil constituencies. Each profile has a description of the constituency including themed maps.
Parliament and government
Education
Health
Economy and finance
All research themes
Access research under various themes, or search all L&RS publications.
Series
Drone technology | Rules as code
Watch the first of two webinars showcasing the work of researchers hosted by the L&RS under the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Public Service Fellowship. At this webinar, Dr. Boris Galkin and Dr. Rónán Kennedy presented their respective research on drone technology and rules as code.
Series
eHealth | Nanotechnology | Geothermal energy
The second webinar showcasing the work of researchers hosted by the L&RS under the SFI Public Service Fellowship took place on 30 November 2022. Dr. Tim Jacquemard, Dr. Cormac Ó Coileáin and Dr. Nicholas Vafeas, respectively, shared their insights on e-health, nanotechnology and geothermal energy.
Webinar
Artificial intelligence and assisted driving
Marking Science Week 2023, a webinar hosted by the L&RS with SFI considered artificial intelligence and assisted driving, with contributions from Professor Martin Mullins of the University of Limerick and Professor Martin Glavin of the University of Galway.
Webinar
Future-proofing Ireland’s energy systems
Watch the webinar by Professor Andrew Keane of UCD Energy Institute on the work of the Next Generation Energy Systems (NexSys) programme on future-proofing Ireland’s energy systems. It was hosted by the L&RS with SFI to mark Science Week 2022.
Webinar
Making Ireland's first fully green batteries
Watch the webinar on bringing lithium cobalt batteries into the circular economy delivered by Dr Tony Keene, UCD on behalf of the LiCoRICE Project. The webinar was hosted by the L&RS with Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to mark Science Week 2021.
Explore our science seminar archives
Watch the archived videos of our science seminars, including those to mark Science Week and those held in conjunction with Science Foundation Ireland.