Dr. Elaine Moriarty
Associate Professor, Sociology

Projects

• Title
  • Agricultural practices and the regulatory environment that governs antimicrobial use in Ireland.
• Summary
  • Although there is data available regarding sales of antimicrobials, it is unclear how much of these antimicrobials are used on farms effectively. This highlights a gap in knowledge with regards decision making on farms around antimicrobial usage. A whole population survey on the social and economic factors (e.g. gender, age, education) that influence the motivations and attitudes of farmers in Ireland towards the use of antimicrobials on their farms will be undertaken. A panel study will track decision making and document the kinds of changes farmers are willing to make on a range of farm types over 2 years. Engagement with stakeholders that implement antimicrobials (vets, agri-business) will also be undertaken.
• Funding Agency
  • Prendergast Philanthropic Funding
• Date From
  • 010923
• Date To
  • 310827

• Title
  • Migrant and Employer Strategies post Brexit in an All Ireland economy
• Summary
  • On 1 January 2021 as part of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, commonly known as Brexit, free movement rights ended for EU nationals travelling to the UK including Northern Ireland. A key issue that has emerged due to Brexit is the disruption of the labour market between the two jurisdictions which runs contrary to aspirations for an all-island economy. The principal goal of the Migrant and Employer Strategies post Brexit in an all-island economy Project (MES-AIE) is to provide a detailed analysis of the experiences, intentions and strategies of EU nationals and employers in Ireland and Northern Ireland, who have been impacted by the UK's change in immigration policy precipitated by Brexit. Specifically, this research will seek to understand how immigration policy impacts on EU migrant workers decisions to migrate, settle or leave and employers enterprise level decisions around recruitment of nationalities, types and skills of workers. Utilising a qualitative panel research approach, the MES-AIE will reveal the dynamic nature of the all-island labour market needs and aspirations within this changed regulatory context. The project will conduct sector based quantitative analysis of LFS data, track a sample of EU nationals across time and space as they negotiate the new regulatory environment and conduct a sample of case studies of employers of differing types impacted by the changing regulations. The research process and findings will be hosted on a designated webpage and disseminated through workshops, seminars, 4 employment sector reports and 3 quality journal articles. By working collaboratively, the MES-AIE will enhance the capacity of the PIs to contribute to policy development relevant to the Shared Island Initiative benefitting enterprise and communities, north and south and capitalize on the 20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement of the EU through engaging with EU, North-South and East-West bodies.
• Funding Agency
  • North South Funding Programme

• Title
  • Deskilling among 'new' EU migrants in Dublin
• Summary
  • This research project investigates the social phenomenon of deskilling amongst EU nationals living and working in Dublin. In particular, it will examine the experiences of highly educated EU nationals who work in employment positions below their educational qualifications.
• Funding Agency
  • TCD
• Date From
  • March 2022
• Date To
  • February 2026

• Title
  • EU mobiles social rights during the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland
• Summary
  • Since European enlargement in 2004, 'new' EU nationals have lived, worked and planned for their futures in a variety of employment sectors in the Irish labour market. With this award I seek to examine new EU nationals' perceptions, experiences and aspirations of their social security across that time and particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. This award will enable me to examine how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted on both the institutional response to intra EU mobility and new EU nationals experiences of accessing their social welfare entitlements in Ireland. Specifically, I will be able to analyse patterns of social welfare transfers (retirement, unemployment, child benefit etc) longitudinally (2004-2021). Importantly, I will conduct 40 qualitative interviews with new EU nationals who have lived and worked in Ireland with specific reference to their experiences of accessing and/or transferring welfare entitlements at a national and intra European level during the Covid 19 context.
• Funding Agency
  • TCD
• Date From
  • 2021
• Date To
  • 2024

• Title
  • Graduate Careers and Social Mobility
• Summary
  • This research project examined graduate experiences in the transition from college to work, particularly focusing on the role of mentors, networks, hard and soft skills.
• Funding Agency
  • TRISS Research Fellowship
• Date From
  • 2020
• Date To
  • 2021

• Title
  • The social rights of mobile EU citizens in policy and practice
• Summary
  • This research project examines the social rights of mobile EU citizens in policy and practice, particularly focusing on the transfer of social security rights between Ireland and other EU member states. Are EU citizens able to access and transfer their social security rights in and from Ireland equally?
• Funding Agency
  • Faculty AHSS Fund
• Date From
  • 2021
• Date To
  • 2023

• Title
  • The Portability of Welfare Benefits by European Nationals
• Summary
  • This research entailed a European wide analysis of the regulations governing the portability of social protections (unemployment, illness, carers, child benefit). In particular it examined the tensions between EU directives guaranteeing equal protections between member state nationals and national welfare implementation systems which engaged in selective 'restrictive' policies in response to EU accessions during the 2000s.
• Funding Agency
  • Trinity Arts and Social Benefaction Fund
• Date From
  • 2013
• Date To
  • 2016

• Title
  • Migrant Careers and Aspirations
• Summary
  • The Migrant Careers and Aspirations project focused on Eastern European workers in the Irish labour market, particularly Polish migrants. It studied the interaction of migrants' and employers' strategies through a qualitative panel study of both immigrants and workplaces, preceded by sectoral reports and flanked by a systematic monitoring of labour market trends.
• Funding Agency
  • Philanthropic - AIB
• Date From
  • October 2007
• Date To
  • September 2010

• Title
  • Positive Action Initiatives: Precedents, Lessons and Remedies
• Summary
  • On 28 November as part of the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy Athena Swan research, I organised a whole school event to examine the potential of Positive Action Initiatives in the promotion of women in the third level sector. This event recording was then promoted amongst the entire Athena Swan community https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht-vIk1OivE&feature=youtu.be>.
• Funding Agency
  • Faculty AHSS Events Fund

• Title
  • Careers, Conjuncture and Consequences: The Implications of Polish migration to Ireland for contemporary Irish emigration
• Summary
  • This project is a follow up to the Migrant Careers and Aspirations (2007-2010). The project re-interviewed the original panel of young Poles who came to Ireland to work in the Irish labour market during the boom. It also developed a new panel of young Irish graduate emigrants during the recession. It researched whether novel forms of migrant careers exist within the European and transnational mobility space, the impact on migrants' careers of two different conjunctures (bubble and recession). Finally it examined the lasting consequences for Irish employment regulation of the periods of mass immigration and mass emigration.
• Funding Agency
  • Irish Research Council
• Date From
  • 01 August 2012
• Date To
  • 30 September 2014