The Chief Local Government Auditor reports on absenteeism based on data requested from the 26 councils on an annual basis. The data is analysed over a three year period to counter the impact of annual fluctuations in absenteeism which could distort findings particularly within smaller councils. In 2009-10, Northern Ireland councils employed over 9,800 staff at a cost of £299 million. Staff costs account for 42% of the councils' expenditure. The report sets out a number of main findings and recommendations, including: Northern Ireland councils as a whole lost almost 122,000 days to absenteeism in 2009-10, an increase of around 700 days compared to 2008-09; there is a resultant absenteeism rate of 12.39 days for each full time equivalent employee which reflects a marginal reduction of 0.04 days. This absenteeism rate for all Northern Ireland councils is now lower than any annual rate recorded this decade with a reduction of 16%. Stress, depression, mental health and fatigue remains the largest cause of days lost due to absenteeism, responsible for 22% of days lost in 2009-10, down 1% from 2008-09. As in previous reports, the NIAO recommends that councils with high and rising absenteeism rates should review their own management practices and benchmark these against those councils with low and falling absenteeism rates. In general there was an improvement in the quality of absenteeism data presented by the councils.

The Stationery Office annual catalogue 2011 provides a comprehensive source of bibliographic information on over 4900 Parliamentary, statutory and official publications - from the UK Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and many government departments and agencies - which were issued in 2011.

Ownership of multiple homes has become increasingly popular throughout the Western world, with the UK and Ireland seeing a particular surge in recent years. Paris addresses the reasons why, and the effects, using case studies from Europe, Australia, America and Asia.

This book examines the extent and nature of Irish social and cultural difference. It is a collection of twenty-three short essays written in a clear and accessible manner by human scientists who are international experts in their area. The essays cover topics covered include the nature of Irish nationalism and capitalism, the Irish political elite, the differences and similarities of the Irish family, the upsurge in immigration, Northern Ireland, the Irish diaspora, the Irish language, sport, music and many other topics. The book will be bought by those who have an academic and personal interest in Irish Studies. It will be attractive to those who are not familiar with the theories and methods of the human sciences and how they can shine a light on the transformations that have taken place in Ireland. Tom Inglis, the editor of the collection, is a sociologist who has written extensively on Irish culture and society.

Each of the jurisdictions within the United Kingdom is constantly refining the operational characteristics of its planning system and while there are some common practices, there are also substantive divergences. In each territory the planning template is shaped within a dynamic political and legal context and thus students and practitioners require an accessible, in-depth and up-to-date literature dealing with this matter. The multi-disciplinary contributors to this expanded Second Edition of Planning Law and Practice in Northern Ireland explore the progression of planning within the region and discuss prominent facets of contemporary development management, development plans, environmental law, property law and professional practice. Consideration is given to the consequences of Brexit for planning in Northern Ireland, devolved government institutional structures for planning, and the post-2015 emergent performance of local authorities in this arena. The book makes an important contribution to the wider literature in this field and, with its extensive citing of statutes and cases, provides an essential resource for students, planning practitioners and researchers.

This handbook provides comprehensive and expert analysis of the impact of the Brexit process and the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on existing and future EU–UK relations within the context of both EU and international law. Examining the wider international law implications, it additionally assesses the complex legal consequences of Brexit for both the EU and the UK in their dealings with third states and other international organizations. With contributions from renowned specialists in the field of EU external action, each chapter will analyse specific policy areas to address key challenges arising from the Brexit process for the EU and the UK and propose solutions to overcome these problems. The handbook aims to fill a gap in research by assessing the consequences of Brexit under EU external relations law and international law. As such, it is hoped it will set the research agenda for coming years on the international dimension of Brexit. The Routledge Handbook on the International Dimension of Brexit is an authoritative and essential reference text for scholars and students of international and European/EU law and policy, EU politics, and British Politics and Brexit, as well as of key relevance to legal practitioners involved in Brexit, governments, policy-makers, civil society organizations, think tanks, practitioners, national parliaments and the Court of Justice.