Research and Information Service Briefing Paper Paper 34/16 20 May 2016 The EU Referendum and Northern Ireland Information Resources Research and Information Service briefings are compiled for the benefit of MLAs and their support staff. Authors are available to discuss the contents of these papers with Members and their staff but cannot advise members of the general public. We do, however, welcome written evidence that relates to our papers and this should be sent to the Research and Information Service, Northern Ireland Assembly, Room 139, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX or e-mailed to
[email protected] Providing research and information services to the Northern Ireland Assembly 1 Briefing Paper CONTENTS 1 Introduction 3 2 Legislatures and governments 4 Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Scottish Parliament House of Commons UK Government Tithe An Oireachtas/Houses Of The Oireachtas Government of Ireland 3 Academia and Think Tanks 10 4 Interest groups and others 14 5 Opinion Polls 16 6 Press 17 7 Forthcoming events 34 If you experience difficulties in opening links directly from this paper, please try copying and pasting the link into your browser. Providing research and information services to the Northern Ireland Assembly 2 Briefing Paper 1) INTRODUCTION The European Union Referendum Act 2015 provides for the question of whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union to be put to a referendum held in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar. The date for the referendum has now been set as 23 June 2016 and the question that is to appear on ballot papers is: ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union’ The answers that are to appear on the ballot papers are: ‘Remain a member of the European Union’ and ‘Leave the European Union’.