WIREDGOV

A newly launched “open data” project by the Northern Ireland Assembly offers a whole host of exciting opportunities for individuals and organisations, particularly those who specialise in data analysis or who design web and smart phone applications. 

The project allows data on the work of the Assembly and its Committees to be published in its raw form, increasing the ways in which the data can be used.  The data can be copied, published and adapted, as well as collated with other statistics and information to create new products such as web and mobile phone applications. 

The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr William Hay MLA said: “The possibilities that this project opens up are vast. It is now up to interested individuals and organisations, including lobby groups, journalists, campaign groups and data specialists to bring their ideas, creativity and skills to bear on what they create with the data and how they use and interpret it.”

The first phase of the open data service includes names of MLAs and their Assembly roles; questions (for oral and written answer) tabled by Members since 2007, along with respective answers; and names of Departments, Committees, Political Parties and All Party Groups.

There will be a further two stages of the project available by early 2013.  They will include information on Plenary and Committee meetings, including division results and items of business, as well as data on Legislation and the Official Report (Hansard).

For more information, please visit: http://data.niassembly.gov.uk/