Working across Ireland, to make most of existing expertise, can be of mutual benefit to both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Especially in a time of economic downturn, using our collective knowledge as a research community makes good business sense. It also provides space for dialogue among researchers, service users and policy makers to share good and bad practice. Two recent events (in Belfast and Dublin) about demographic change and future health care provision, while important in their own right, could have provided a useful all-Ireland comparative analysis. 

The rationale for CARDI being established was to bring together relevant players across Ireland so that those with skills and knowledge on ageing can focus on top research priorities. I am often asked why we take an all-Ireland approach. This question, I’m sure, is partly due to a traditional tendency for researchers, regardless of discipline, to study issues or populations within single geographies where they are based. Indeed a striking feature of ageing research is the very small amount of cross-border research. CARDI’s mapping exercise completed in 2008 found that just over 2% of total research projects took an all-Ireland analysis (www.cardi.ie/userfiles/Mapping%20final.pdf).

Early in 2009 we launched a grants programme which promotes north-south research partnerships and focuses on bringing together different subject areas to look at issues affecting older people in new and mutually beneficial ways to build the age research community across Ireland. In June we were delighted to announce the six successful applicants. See http://www.cardi.ie/?q=funding/grant-projects

An all-Ireland approach to working is also part of the two government approach to a range of areas. For instance the common text of the National Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion in Ireland commits the Irish and UK governments to developing and promoting further North-South consultation, co-operation and common action.

Where illnesses or issues are the same, it is difficult to see why collaboration is not more frequent – the study of cancer has led the way but more need to follow.

It may be that differences in the structure of local and national government and public administration make cross-border research challenging but they are not insurmountable. To address this challenge CARDI produced two resource documents which provide a framework for understanding government structures and policy on ageing to assist and encourage collaboration and cooperation in the area of ageing research within Ireland (North and South).

www.cardi.ie/userfiles/Cardi%20Government%20Structures%20Final%20(Web).pdf
www.cardi.ie/userfiles/Cardi%20Stocktake%20(final)%20web.pdf

Mindsets need to be challenged and benefits, to people on both sides of the border, continuously promoted if we are to progress an all-Ireland approach to demographic change.

An ongoing challenge for us all in the field! 

Roger O’Sullivan
Director