Pivotal
@pivotalpolicy.bsky.social
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Northern Ireland's independent public policy think tank. pivotalpolicy.org
"Mixed tenure is a new way of working for private developers, housing associations and the various government agencies involved." A new guest article on Pivotal Platform from Mark Graham of Co-Ownership.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
3 days ago
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reposted by
Pivotal
David McCann
4 days ago
As part of Imagine join Ann Watt
@pivotalpolicy.bsky.social
Jodie Carson
@ulsteruni.bsky.social
& Suzanne Breen
@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
sluggerotoole.com/2026/02/23/s...
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Slugger Event: Two Years Down, One To Go
The NI Executive has been back up and running for two years. The next Assembly election is just over a year away. The campaigning is already underway. Given their track record of delivery, we ask whet...
https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/02/23/slugger-event-two-years-down-one-to-go/
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What are the challenges facing the NI Executive in managing its budget? Pivotal has provided oral and written evidence to the NI Assembly Finance Committee about the proposed draft multi-year budget. Read our evidence and view a clip here
pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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Evidence to the Finance Committee: Multi-year budget
Pivotal has provided written evidence to the NI Assembly Finance Committee about the proposed draft multi-year budget. The amount of day-to-day funding available to the Northern Ireland Executive in 2...
https://pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-events/2026/02/evidence-to-the-finance-committee-multi-year-budgets
7 days ago
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"NIās woodland creation targets are ambitious, necessary and publicly supported, but they will remain aspirational without the structural changes required to deliver them." John Martin of the Woodland Trust is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform
pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
8 days ago
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"When policymakers and organisations engage directly with carers, through conversations, workshops, or storytelling, the picture becomes richer, more honest, and more grounded in reality" A new guest article for Pivotal Platform, this week from Ellie Goff.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
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Supporting carers at work: from good intentions to meaningful action
Across the UK, thousands of parents and carers are balancing employment with caring responsibilities. For many of us, work is more than income
https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/pivotal-platform/supporting-carers-at-work-from-good-intentions-to-meaningful-action
16 days ago
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Read Pivotal's analysis of the Department of Education's five-year budget strategy here:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-y...
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The five-year Education budget strategy
The Education Ministerās draft five-year budget strategy, published last Wednesday, highlights important patterns in education spending and how these needs can be best met in future. It faces up to st...
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-year-education-budget-strategy-pivotal--mxife
18 days ago
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NEW Pivotal tracker report reviews two years of the restored Northern Ireland Executive Read the report here
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
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29 days ago
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Look out tomorrow morning for Pivotal's new tracker report reviewing the two years since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive in February 2024.
29 days ago
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Last night our PLDP cohort heard from Suzanne Wylie from NI Chamber about the challenges and opportunities in local government and business, and from our senior researcher James about research skills and research ethics. An enjoyable and engaging session all round!
30 days ago
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"For too long our homelessness response has been focused almost entirely downstream, rescuing people once they are already in crisis." A new guest article for Pivotal Platform, by Cathy Brolly from the Simon Community.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
30 days ago
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"People with MS want to work. Many already do. Many more could continue working for longer with the right support." Naomi McBurney, of the MS Society in Northern Ireland (
@mssocietyuk.bsky.social
), is this week's guest writer on Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
about 1 month ago
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Last night we held the first session of our second PLDP cohort! We discussed the fundamentals of politics and policy in Northern Ireland as well as the topics and issues that inspire them. It is great to be back with a whole new group of dedicated young policy leaders.
about 1 month ago
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Ann Watt writes about the proposed draft multi-year budget in today's Belfast Telegraph - "an opportunity that cannot be missed"
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news...
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A multi-year Budget is an opportunity which cannot be missed by Executive
For years, Northern Irelandās politicians have anticipated the chance to craft a multi-year Budget. It is an opportunity for longer-term planning for public service delivery, investment and reform aft...
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/a-multi-year-budget-is-an-opportunity-which-cannot-be-missed-by-executive/a1031309397.html
about 1 month ago
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Today the Finance Minister will make an oral statement in the Assembly about his proposed draft multi-year Budget. You can read Pivotal's initial analysis of the proposed draft Budget here
linkedin.com/pulse/propos...
Some areas where it would be good to know more ā¬ļø 1/3
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Proposed draft multi-year budget - initial Pivotal analysis
Yesterday the Finance Minister published a proposed draft multi-year budget for Northern Ireland Departments for consultation. It sets out proposed resource and capital allocations for the next three ...
https://linkedin.com/pulse/proposed-draft-multi-year-budget-initial-pivotal-analysis-pivotal--fn97e/?trackingId=e1m0NiR%2FczRHqi1NIen67A%3D%3D
about 2 months ago
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"Any policy response that treats online harm as generic will fail to grasp the mechanisms that make it so dangerous for women of faith." This week's guest blog on Pivotal Platform is by Mischa Gerrard, a member of the Faith & VAWG Coalition.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
3 months ago
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NEW Pivotal Briefing looks at the challenges and opportunities facing the Northern Ireland Executive as it considers its upcoming multi-year budget Read the Briefing here
pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
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3 months ago
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šNew Pivotal Briefing on Northern Ireland's multi-year budget coming out on Monday
3 months ago
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Joan McEwan from
@mariecurieuk.bsky.social
in Northern Ireland is today's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform. Discussing the approach needed to ensure "high-quality, integrated palliative care is delivered where and when patients need it most."
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
3 months ago
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Pivotal's response to the UK Budget.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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Pivotal's response to the UK Budget
Good news on the two-child limit but Westminster Budget still leaves NI Executive with a tough financial challenge.
https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-events/2025/11/pivotals-response-to-the-uk-budget
3 months ago
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On World Children's Day, a new guest blog on Pivotal Platform from the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People,
@nichildcom.bsky.social
, Chris Quinn.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
3 months ago
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A new Pivotal report, 'Voluntary and community sector-led approaches to economic inactivity', commissioned by @NICVA has been launched at Stormont. Details and a link to the full report here -
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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Launch of Pivotal report commissioned by NICVA
A new Pivotal report, Voluntary and community sector-led approaches to economic inactivity, commissioned by NICVA (the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) has been launched at Stormont. The...
https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-events/2025/11/launch-of-pivotal-report-commissioned-by-nicva
3 months ago
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"Itās now time to work together and ensure that NI sets the standard when it comes to protecting workers from the impact of extreme weather events." Susan Fitzgerald, Regional Secretary of
@unitetheunion.bsky.social
, guest writes for Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
4 months ago
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"Arthritis has a massive impact on society and is a leading cause of pain, disability, mental ill-health and inability to work." John McCormick of
@arthritisuk.bsky.social
is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
4 months ago
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"Focusing too much on whatās happening at the frontier distracts from more meaningful questions for most organisations." Donnacha Kirk, of the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC), is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
4 months ago
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"The animal welfare sector is unified on and ready for much needed change to be breathed in to outdated and insufficient legislation." Laura Orr of
@dogstrust.bsky.social
is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
4 months ago
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"When digital spaces become unsafe, people can lose anchors that supports their wellbeing. The impact does not stop when the screen turns off." Dr Zhraa Alhaboby, from the
@openuniversity.bsky.social
, is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
4 months ago
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reposted by
Pivotal
Dr Michelle Clement
5 months ago
Very much looking forward to speaking to Ann and
@pivotalpolicy.bsky.social
network about my book āThe Art of Deliveryā and to consider lessons for Northern Ireland Do sign up below, if this is of interestš šļø 21 Oct, 2.00-3.00pm online
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Pivotal's Director Ann Watt considers lessons for Northern Ireland from Dr Michelle Clement's book 'The Art of Delivery'. We are delighted to be hosting a webinar with Michelle (
@mlclem.bsky.social
) on 21 October, details below.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
5 months ago
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"A mix of expectation, frustration and partial delivery has defined the story of football infrastructure in Northern Ireland." Aaron Vennard is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
5 months ago
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"Employers want apprentices but face systemic hurdles, and young people want apprenticeships but encounter fragmented and confusing routes." Richard Kirk, from Workplus, is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
5 months ago
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"PE provides a knowledge rich space in schools for young people to learn and grow together". A new guest blog on Pivotal Platform from Dr Julie Stirrup, of
@lborouniversity.bsky.social
, and Dr Shirley Gray, of
@edinburgh-uni.bsky.social
.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
6 months ago
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"By diverting slurry solids from farms to AD plants, we can generate green energy, ease nutrient pressures & close the loop on nutrient cycles." Writing for Pivotal Platform Dr Ćine Anderson, of BH Estates, details this innovation & policy barriers in its way.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
6 months ago
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New Pivotal tracker report reviews recent progress by the Northern Ireland Executive on the Programme for Government and other priorities Read the report here
pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
6 months ago
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On Monday, we publish our newest tracker report, 18 months of the Northern Ireland Executive: a review. We look at what the departments have been doing, actions against the PfG priorities, and offer cross-cutting messages for ministers.
6 months ago
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We are delighted to announce that we will be running a new policy leadership development programme for young people aged 18-25 this autumn. Find out more here:
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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8 months ago
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"Decision-makers can use these structures to their benefit, road testing new ideas, testing public opinion, and importantly strengthening trust in political institutions."
@emmadesouza.bsky.social
is this week's guest writer on Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
8 months ago
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Securing sustainable funding for water and sewage services in Northern Ireland - Pivotal responds to two important recent reports.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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Securing sustainable funding for water and sewage services in Northern Ireland
Two new reports detail why policymakers, and everyone with a stake in the economic and social development of Northern Ireland, need to grasp the nettle of the crisis in funding water and sewage servic...
https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-events/2025/07/securing-sustainable-funding-for-water-and-sewage-services-in-northern-ireland
8 months ago
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"The result is that women are choosing not to run, stepping back from public roles or enduring ongoing psychological harm." Aoife Clements,
@itseeefa.bsky.social
, Founder of
@5050ni.bsky.social
, is this week's guest writer for Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
8 months ago
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Read Pivotal's response to Assembly and Executive Review Committee on reforms to the Stormont institutions. In summary, we recognise concerns about the institutions' functioning, but suggest that reforms to remove the veto should be approached with caution.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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Response to Assembly and Executive Reform Consultation
Pivotal offers this response through a lens of asking āWould these reforms bring about better policy decision-making in Northern Ireland?ā
https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-events/2025/07/response-to-assembly-and-executive-reform-consultation
8 months ago
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Read our consultation response on Developer Contributions for wastewater infrastructure below: These options may unlock some short-term developments, but tough decisions must not be avoided on longer-term funding, even if that means considering water charges.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
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https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files/news/downloads/wastewater-consultation-final.pdf
8 months ago
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"To grow a truly safer ageing society, we need a cultural shift that supports any legislative change. We need to value older people as active, respected members of our communities." Gareth Mulvenna, from Hourglass, writes for Pivotal Platform:
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
8 months ago
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What does it take to turn policy announcements into real change? Ann Watt writes in today's @BelTel about Pivotal's recent research report 'Policy delivery in Northern Ireland' Read the full report here
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news...
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What Executive should do to fix government by status quo
Itās over 500 days since the Assembly and Executive were restored in February 2024. This marked the end of a second long-term government collapse within the past decade.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/what-executive-should-do-to-fix-government-by-status-quo/a1078715510.html
8 months ago
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View from Stormont looked at the High Court judgement on A5 upgrade, including a wider discussion on why NI struggles with big infrastructure projects. From 33:00, Ann Watt gave some analysis from our recent policy delivery report
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
www.itv.com/watch/news/v...
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https://www.itv.com/watch/news/view-from-stormont/1668sgg
8 months ago
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reposted by
Pivotal
David Jordan
8 months ago
A very important report from Pivotal - currently there is a lot of talk about the external factors that affect Northern Ireland, but this report is a reminder that there are factors within the control of government here that could lead to better outcomes for NI's economy & people
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NEW Pivotal report - Policy delivery in Northern Ireland How do we make sure policy goals are achieved in practice? We asked 30 former senior civil servants, ministers, business and voluntary sector leaders to tell us about their experiences and ideas.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
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8 months ago
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Tomorrow... 'Policy Delivery in Northern Ireland'. A new report from Pivotal.š
8 months ago
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'I fear we have moved beyond looking toward āinvesting to saveā and are now in a position of needing to invest āto saveā general practice in NI.' Dr Ursula Mason, of the Royal College of General Practitioners NI, writes for Pivotal Platform.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...
9 months ago
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Read Pivotal's statement on yesterday's UK Spending Review. "The Spending Review gives Northern Ireland a 3-year funding settlement but means difficult choices ahead. The money will have to be spent wisely, with strong emphasis on public service transformation"
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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Pivotal media statement on UK Spending Review
https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-events/2025/06/pivotal-media-statement-on-uk-spending-review
9 months ago
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What will next week's Spending Review mean for Northern Ireland? Ann Watt's article for Tuesday's Business Telegraph is now available to read on Pivotal's website
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
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Why Spending Review offers Stormont a huge opportunity to bring about reforms
Westminsterās imminent Spending Review will set the social and economic tone for the whole of the UK. Its implications for Northern Ireland will be significant ā as will the Executiveās decisions abou...
https://www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-events/2025/06/why-spending-review-offers-stormont-a-huge-opportunity-to-bring-about-reforms
9 months ago
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Today we are delighted to launch our new website
pivotalpolicy.org
. It provides a fresh platform to engage with our research and the latest news about our work. Our new site is now live - 1/5
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9 months ago
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