The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is an all-island body which combats health inequalities and influences public policy in favour of health. Its remit is to 'promote cooperation for public health between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland' including the areas of monitoring and surveillance.

The AIHWDS conceptual framework views the situation of health of a population (often a geographical area) as emerging from intervening factors that are themselves based on a set of underlying root causes. It recognises that factors influencing health operate at the individual level, the intermediate (local) level and the wider macro (social) level. The framework then groups together measures under nine domains derived from these three stages and three levels.