View source for Northern Ireland Executive

{{Short description|Devolved government of Northern Ireland}}
{{Redirect|Cabinet of Northern Ireland|the cabinet of the devolved government from 1922 to 1972|Government of Northern Ireland (1921–1972){{!}}Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{ Infobox executive government
 | background_color = #18274F
 | government_name = Northern Ireland Executive
 | nativename = {{langx|ga|Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann}}<br />{{langx|sco|Norlin Airlan Executive}}
 | border = devolved
 | image = Northern Ireland Executive logo.svg
 | image_size = 230px
 | date_established = [[Good Friday Agreement|2 December 1999]]; 25 years ago (current form)
 | date_dissolved = 
 | state = [[Northern Ireland]]
 | country = 
 | polity = 
 | leader_title = [[First Minister and deputy First Minister]] ([[Michelle O'Neill]] and [[Emma Little-Pengelly]])
 | appointed = [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]{{efn|The first and deputy first minister are nominated by the two largest parties in the Assembly. Other ministerial roles are allocated by the [[D'Hondt method|d’Hondt method]] among other parties, except for the [[Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)#Minister|Justice Minister]] brief which is determined by a [[cross-community vote]].}}
 | ministries = 9<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/topics/your-executive/government-departments | title= Government departments| date= 9 May 2016| publisher = Northern Ireland Executive | access-date = 10 February 2024}}</ref> ([[List of Northern Ireland ministers, government departments and executive agencies#Ministers|list]])
 | responsible = [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]
 | budget = £14.2 billion (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/northern-ireland-secretary-announces-2023-24-budget-and-contingency-plans-for-governance |title=Northern Ireland Secretary announces 2023-24 Budget and contingency plans for governance |last=Heaton-Harris |first=Chris |date=27 April 2023 |publisher=UK Government |access-date=10 February 2024 |quote=The total amount available for NI Executive spending is £14.2 billion; The consequences of addressing the £660million gap in the 2022-23 financial year has meant that £297 million provided from the UK Reserve was due to be repaid from the 2023-24 budget.}}</ref>
 | address = [[Stormont Castle]], [[Stormont Estate]], [[Belfast]]
 | url = {{URL|https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/}}
 }}

{{Politics of Northern Ireland}}

The '''Northern Ireland Executive''' ([[Irish language|Irish]]: ''Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Naisc {{!}} Northern Ireland Assembly Education Service |url=https://education.niassembly.gov.uk/ga/naisc |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=education.niassembly.gov.uk}}</ref> [[Ulster Scots dialect|Ulster Scots]]: ''Norlin Airlan Executive''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Innin Frae the Jynt Secretars |url=https://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/sites/northsouthministerialcouncil.org/files/publications/nsmc_annual_report_2003_-_ulster_scots_%28pdf_4001kb%29.pdf}}</ref>) is the [[devolution|devolved]] government of [[Northern Ireland]], an administrative branch of the [[legislature]] – the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], situated in [[Belfast]]. It is answerable to the assembly and was initially established according to the terms of the [[Northern Ireland Act 1998]], which followed the [[Good Friday Agreement]] (or Belfast Agreement). The [[Executive (government)|executive]] is referred to in the legislation as the '''Executive Committee''' of the assembly and is an example of [[consociationalism|consociationalist]] ("power-sharing") government.

The Northern Ireland Executive consists of the [[first minister and deputy first minister]] and various ministers with individual portfolios and remits. The main assembly parties appoint most ministers in the executive, except for the [[Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)|Minister of Justice]] who is elected by a [[cross-community vote]]. It is one of three devolved governments in the [[United Kingdom]], the others being the [[Scottish Government|Scottish]] and [[Welsh Government|Welsh]] governments<!-- The name "Welsh Assembly Government" was changed to "Welsh Government" in May 2011 -->.

In January 2017, [[Sinn Féin]] deputy First Minister [[Martin McGuinness]] resigned in protest over the [[Renewable Heat Incentive scandal]] and the Northern Ireland Executive consequently collapsed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=10 January 2017|title=Martin McGuinness resigns as NI deputy first minister|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38561507|access-date=7 November 2020|website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The governing of Northern Ireland fell to the [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil service]] in a [[Caretaker government|caretaker]] capacity until January 2020, when the parties signed the [[New Decade, New Approach]] agreement and an Executive was subsequently established.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 January 2020|title=Stormont deal: Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill new top NI ministers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-51077397|access-date=7 November 2020|website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> When [[Democratic Unionist Party]] First Minister [[Paul Givan]] resigned in line with his party's protest over the [[Northern Ireland Protocol]], the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kearney |first=Vincent |date=2022-02-03 |title=Paul Givan resigns as NI First Minister |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2022/0203/1277530-paul-givan/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref> No agreement on power-sharing was made after the [[2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2022 Assembly election]], and from October 2022 to February 2024, Northern Ireland was again governed by the civil service.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-27 |title=NI election looms as Stormont deadline passes |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-63420931 |access-date=2023-07-25}}</ref> On 3 February 2024, [[Sinn Féin]]'s [[Michelle O'Neill]] was appointed First Minister, the first Irish nationalist to be appointed to the position,<ref>https://news.sky.co.uk/story/michelle-oneill-appointed-northern-irelands-first-nationalist-first-minister-in-historic-moment-13062780{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> with [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]]'s [[Emma Little-Pengelly]] as deputy First Minister.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-68180505 | title=Stormont: Michelle O'Neill makes history as nationalist first minister | work=BBC News | date=3 February 2024 }}</ref>

==Legal basis==
The Executive (and the Assembly) were established in law by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that followed the Good Friday Agreement and its basis was revised by the [[Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006]] that followed the [[St Andrews Agreement]] of that year.

==Ministers==
On 9 May 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2016/89/made/data.htm|title=The Departments (2016 Act) (Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016|work=legislation.gov.uk|date=1 May 2016}}</ref> the number of ministries and departments of the Northern Ireland Executive was reduced, leaving the following departments:<ref>{{cite web|title=Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2016/5|date=29 February 2016|work=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Executive Office (Northern Ireland)|Executive Office]]
* [[Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs]]
* [[Department for Communities]]
* [[Department of Education (Northern Ireland)|Department of Education]]
* [[Department for the Economy]]
* [[Department of Finance (Northern Ireland)|Department of Finance]]
* [[Department of Health (Northern Ireland)|Department of Health]]
* [[Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland)|Department for Infrastructure]]
* [[Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)|Department of Justice]]
{{div col end}}

At the same time, various departments were renamed as follows: 
* Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister was renamed Executive Office
* Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was renamed Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
* Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment was renamed Department for the Economy
* Department of Finance and Personnel was renamed Department of Finance
* Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety was renamed Department of Health
* Department for Regional Development was renamed Department for Infrastructure
* Department for Social Development was renamed Department for Communities

The following departments were dissolved:
* [[Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure]]
* [[Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland)|Department of the Environment]] 
* [[Department for Employment and Learning]]

==Structure==
{{more citations needed section|date=December 2013}}
In contrast with [[Westminster system]] cabinets, which generally need only be backed by a [[majority]] of legislators, ministerial positions in the Northern Ireland Executive are allocated to parties with significant representation in the Assembly.  With the exception of justice, the number of ministries to which each party is entitled is determined by the [[D'Hondt system]].

In effect, major parties cannot be excluded from participation in government and power-sharing is enforced by the system. The form of government is therefore known as ''mandatory coalition'' as opposed to ''voluntary coalition'' where parties negotiate an agreement to share power. The [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP), the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP), the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] and some [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP) members favour a move towards voluntary coalition in the longer term but this is currently{{when|date=October 2019}} opposed by [[Sinn Féin]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

The executive cannot function if either of the two largest parties refuse to take part, as these parties are allocated the first minister and deputy first minister positions.  However, other parties are not required to enter the executive even if they are entitled to do so; instead, they can choose to go into [[Opposition (parliamentary)|opposition]] if they wish. There were some calls for the SDLP and the UUP to enter opposition after the [[2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2007 Assembly elections]],<ref name="uupruleout">{{cite news|first=William|last=Scholes|title=UUP and SDLP rule out suggestions of forming opposition|url=http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2007/mar10_SDLP_UUP_rule_out_opposition_suggestions.php|format=Reprint|work=[[The Irish News]]|date=10 March 2007|access-date=3 April 2007|archive-date=15 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315230530/http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2007/mar10_SDLP_UUP_rule_out_opposition_suggestions.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> but ultimately the two parties chose to take the seats in the Executive to which they were entitled.

In 2010, an exception to the D'Hondt system for allocating the number of ministerial portfolios was made under the [[Hillsborough Castle Agreement]] to allow the cross-community [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] to hold the politically contentious policing and justice brief when most of those powers were devolved to the Assembly.  Devolution took place on 12 April 2010.

Under D'Hondt, the SDLP would have been entitled to the extra ministerial seat on the revised Executive created by the devolution of policing and justice. Accordingly, both the UUP and SDLP protested that Alliance was not entitled, under the rules of the [[Good Friday Agreement]], to fill the portfolio and refused to support this move. However, Alliance leader [[David Ford (politician)|David Ford]] was elected Minister with the support of the DUP and Sinn Féin.

On 26 August 2015, the UUP announced it would withdraw from the Executive and form an opposition after all, in response to the assassination of [[Kevin McGuigan]].

On 25 May 2016 a new executive was announced (three weeks after assembly election). For the first time in the assembly's history, parties that were entitled to ministries (i.e. UUP, SDLP and Alliance) chose instead to go into opposition following a recent bill providing parties with this choice. This meant that the executive was formed only by the two major parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, and thus giving them more seats in the Executive (with the exception of the Department of Justice which was given to an [[Independent Unionist]] MLA, [[Claire Sugden]], due to this appointment needing cross-community support).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-36376434|title=Stormont: New NI power-sharing executive formed|work=BBC News |date=25 May 2016 |access-date=2016-05-25}}</ref>

==Procedure==
[[File:Stormont Castle - geograph.org.uk - 964434.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stormont Castle]], seat of the Executive]]
The Executive is co-chaired by the first minister and deputy first minister. Its official functions are:
*acting as a forum for the discussion of, and agreement on, issues which cut across the responsibilities of two or more ministers;
*prioritising executive and legislative proposals;
*discussing and agreeing upon significant or controversial matters; and
*recommending a common position where necessary (e.g. in dealing with external relationships).<ref name="legislation.gov.uk">[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/20 "Section 20, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref>

Executive meetings are normally held fortnightly, compared to weekly meetings of the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|British Cabinet]] and [[Government of Ireland|Irish Government]]. Under the Executive's Ministerial Code, ministers are obliged to:<ref>[http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code.htm "Northern Ireland Executive Ministerial Code"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016045348/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code.htm |date=16 October 2011 }}.</ref>
*operate within the framework of the Programme for Government;
*support all decisions of the Executive and [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]; and
*participate fully in the Executive, the [[North/South Ministerial Council]] and the [[British-Irish Council]].
The Ministerial Code allows any three ministers to request a cross-community vote. The quorum for voting is seven ministers.
[[File:Dundonald House - 3724956 f8d69b20.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dundonald House]], previously home to various government agencies]]

The current system of devolution has succeeded long periods of direct rule (1974–1999 and 2002–2007), when the [[Northern Ireland Civil Service]] had a considerable influence on government policy. The legislation which established new departments in 1999 affirmed that "the functions of a department shall at all times be exercised subject to the direction and control of the Minister".<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1999/283/article/4 "Article 4, The Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999"].</ref> Ministerial powers can be conferred by an Act of the Assembly<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/22 "Section 22, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref> and ministers can also exercise executive powers which are vested in the [[the Crown|Crown]].<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/23 "Section 23, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref>

Ministers are also subject to several limitations, including the [[European Convention on Human Rights]], [[European Union law]], other international obligations of the UK,<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/26 "Section 26, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref> a requirement not to discriminate on religious or political grounds,<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/24 "Section 24, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref> and having no power over [[reserved and excepted matters]] (which are held by the [[United Kingdom Government]]).<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/25 "Section 25, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref>

Ministerial decisions can be challenged by a petition of 30 [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] members.  This action can be taken for alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code and on "matters of public importance". The Speaker of the Assembly must consult political party leaders in the Assembly (who are often also ministers) before deciding whether the subject is a matter of public importance. Successful petitions will then be considered by the Executive.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/28B "Section 28B, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref>

The number of ministers and their responsibilities can be changed when a department is being established or dissolved. The proposal must be made by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister and be carried by a cross-community vote in the Assembly. The number of departments was initially limited to 10 but this increased to 11 upon the devolution of justice.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/17 "Section 17, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref>

Ministers are disqualified from holding office if appointed to the [[Government of Ireland]] or as the chairman or deputy chairman of an [[Oireachtas]] (Irish Parliament) committee.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/19A "Section 19A, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref>

==Strategies==
The [[Good Friday Agreement]] states that the Executive will "seek to agree each year, and review as necessary" a Programme for Government incorporating an agreed budget.<ref name="legislation.gov.uk"/>

The following programmes for government have been published to date:
*[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/programme/pfg2000/draftpfg.pdf Draft Programme for Government (2001–2002)] (25 October 2000)
*[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/programme/pfg2001/pfg2001d.pdf Draft Programme for Government (2002–2003)] (24 September 2001)
*[http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/pfgfinal.pdf Programme for Government 2008–2011] (22 January 2008)
*[http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/pfg-2011-2015-final-report.pdf Programme for Government 2011–2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503163810/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/pfg-2011-2015-final-report.pdf |date=3 May 2016 }} (12 March 2012)

The following budgets have been published to date:
{{incomplete list|date=November 2011}}
*[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/programme/2010-01-22_final-budget.pdf Budget 2008–11]
*[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/programme/2011-03-07_revised-budget.pdf Budget 2011–15]

Under the [[St Andrews Agreement]], the Executive is obliged to adopt strategies on the following policy matters:
*enhancing and protecting the development of the [[Irish language]];
*enhancing and developing [[Ulster Scots people|Ulster Scots]] language, heritage and culture; and
*tackling poverty, social exclusion and patterns of deprivation based on objective need.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/28D "Section 28D, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref><ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/28E "Section 28E, Northern Ireland Act 1998"].</ref>

The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister published a child poverty strategy in March 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Improving Children's Life Chances|url=http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/final_child_poverty_strategy_-_agreed_by_executive_-_22_march_2011.pdf|publisher=Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister|access-date=11 November 2011|date=22 March 2011}}</ref> The wider anti-poverty strategy was carried over from direct rule in November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lifetime Opportunities|url=http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/antipovertyandsocialinclusion.pdf|publisher=Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister|access-date=11 November 2011|date=13 November 2006}}</ref> As of November 2011, neither an Irish language strategy nor an Ulster Scots strategy had been adopted. The [[Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure]] states that a ''Strategy for Indigenous or Regional Minority Languages'' "will be presented to the Executive in due course".<ref>{{cite web|title=Language/Cultural Diversity|url=http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/language-cultural-diversity-r08.htm|publisher=Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure|access-date=11 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025002023/http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/language-cultural-diversity-r08.htm|archive-date=25 October 2011}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|List of Northern Ireland Executives}}

===1974===
The original [[Northern Ireland Executive (1974)|Northern Ireland Executive]] was established on 1 January 1974, following the [[Sunningdale Agreement]]. It comprised a voluntary coalition between the [[Ulster Unionist Party]], [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] and [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]], with the UUP's Brian Faulkner in the position of Chief Executive. It was short-lived, collapsing on 28 May 1974 due to the [[Ulster Workers' Council strike]], and [[the Troubles]] continued in the absence of a political settlement.

===Composition since devolution===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%"
! colspan="16" |Historical composition of the Northern Ireland Executive
|-
! rowspan="3" |Executive ([[Northern Ireland Assembly|Assembly]])
! rowspan="3" |Date
! rowspan="3" |Event
! colspan="4" |[[Consociationalism|Mandatory coalition]]:<br />[[Executive Office (Northern Ireland)|Executive Office]]
! colspan="2" rowspan="3" |[[Cross-community vote|Cross-community]]<br />appointment: [[Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)|Justice]]
! colspan="5" |[[D'Hondt method]] allocation
! rowspan="3" |Vacant
! rowspan="3" |Total Ministerial Offices
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |[[First Minister and deputy First Minister|FM]]
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |[[First Minister and deputy First Minister|dFM]]
!style="background-color: {{party color|Ulster Unionist Party}}"|
!style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}"|
!style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
!style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
!style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
|-
!scope="col" align="center" | [[Ulster Unionist Party|UUP]] (U)
![[Social Democratic and Labour Party|SDLP]] (N)
![[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]] (U)
![[Sinn Féin|SF]] (N)
![[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|APNI]] (O)
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Executive of the 1st Northern Ireland Assembly|1st E.]] ([[Members of the 1st Northern Ireland Assembly|1st&nbsp;A.]])'''
|'''1 July 1998'''
|'''formation'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Ulster Unionist Party}}"|
|'''UUP'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}"|
|'''SDLP'''|| colspan="2" |'''-'''||'''3'''||'''3'''||'''2'''||'''2'''||'''0'''||'''0'''
|'''10'''
|-
|14 October 2002
|dissolution|| colspan="11" | Vacant||'''10'''
|10
|-
| rowspan="3" |'''[[Executive of the 3rd Northern Ireland Assembly|2nd E.]] ([[Members of the 3rd Northern Ireland Assembly|3rd&nbsp;A.]])'''
|'''8 May 2007'''
|'''formation'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
|'''DUP'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
|'''SF'''|| colspan="2" |'''-'''||'''2'''||'''1'''||'''4'''||'''3'''||0||'''0'''
|10
|-
|12 April 2010
|devolution
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
|DUP
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
|SF
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
|'''Alliance'''||2||1||4||3||0||0
|'''11'''
|-
|24 March 2011
|dissolution|| colspan="11" | Vacant||'''11'''
|11
|-
| rowspan="4" |'''[[Executive of the 4th Northern Ireland Assembly|3rd E.]] ([[Members of the 4th Northern Ireland Assembly|4th&nbsp;A.]])'''
|'''16 May 2011'''
|'''formation'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
|DUP
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
|SF
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
|'''Alliance'''||'''1'''||1||4||3||'''1'''||'''0'''
|11
|-
|{{nowrap|1 September 2015}}
|resignation
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
|DUP
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
|SF
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
||Alliance||'''R'''||1||4||3||1||'''1'''
|11
|-
|20 October 2015
|reallocation
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
|DUP
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
|SF
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
|Alliance ||R||1||'''5'''||3||1||'''0'''
|11
|-
|16 May 2016
|dissolution|| colspan="11" | Vacant||'''11'''
|11
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Executive of the 5th Northern Ireland Assembly|4th E.]] ([[Members of the 5th Northern Ireland Assembly|5th&nbsp;A.]])'''
|'''26 May 2016'''
|'''formation'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
|DUP
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
|SF
|style="background-color: {{party color|Independent Unionist}}"|
|'''Ind. (U)'''
|R||'''R'''||'''4'''||3||'''0'''||'''0'''
|'''8'''
|-
|16 January 2017
|dissolution|| colspan="11"  | Vacant||'''8'''
|8
|-
||'''[[Executive of the 6th Northern Ireland Assembly|5th E.]] ([[Members of the 6th Northern Ireland Assembly|6th&nbsp;A.]])'''
|'''11 Jan 2020'''
|'''formation'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}"|
|DUP
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}"|
|SF
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
||'''Alliance''' ||'''1'''||'''1'''||'''3'''||'''2'''||0||'''0'''
|8
|-
|rowspan="2" |'''[[Executive of the 6th Northern Ireland Assembly|5th E.]] C ([[Members of the 6th Northern Ireland Assembly|6th&nbsp;A.]])'''
|3 February 2022
|collapse
|colspan="4" | Vacant 
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
||Alliance
||1||1||3||2||0||0
|8
|-
|28 March 2022
|dissolution<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Northern Ireland Assembly is now dissolved. But what does that mean? |url=https://blog.niassembly.gov.uk/2022/03/the-northern-ireland-assembly-is-now.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Assembly Round Up - Official blog from the Northern Ireland Assembly}}</ref>
|colspan="4" | Vacant 
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
||Alliance
||1||1||3||2||0||0
|8
|-
|rowspan="2" |'''[[Executive of the 6th Northern Ireland Assembly|5th E.]] C ([[7th Northern Ireland Assembly|7th&nbsp;A.]])'''
|16 May 2022
|reallocation
|colspan="4" | Vacant 
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
||Alliance
||1||'''R'''||3||'''3'''||0||0
|8
|-
|27 October 2022
|expiry
| colspan="11"  | Vacant ||'''8'''
|8
|-
|'''[[Executive of the 7th Northern Ireland Assembly|6th E.]] ([[7th Northern Ireland Assembly|7th&nbsp;A.]])'''
|'''3 Feb 2024'''
|'''formation'''
| style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|'''SF'''
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}" |
|'''DUP'''
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"|
||Alliance
||1||0||'''2'''||3||'''1'''||'''0'''
|8
|-
| colspan="16" |C = Caretaker ministers under the [[New Decade, New Approach|New Decade, New Approach agreement]]; FM, dFM = First and deputy First Minister, each assisted by a [[junior Minister (Northern Ireland)|junior minister]] from their respective parties; R = resigned or refused posts entitled to under the D'Hondt method.
|}


===1998–2002===

The current Executive was provided for in the [[Belfast Agreement]], signed on 10 April 1998. Designates for [[First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland|First Minister and deputy First Minister]] were appointed on 1 July 1998 by the UUP and SDLP, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Minister (Designate) and Deputy|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports/980701.htm#4|work=Official Report|publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly|access-date=25 October 2011|date=1 July 1998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216033032/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports/980701.htm#4|archive-date=16 December 2010}}</ref> A full Executive was nominated on 29 November 1999 and took office on 2 December 1999, comprising the UUP, SDLP, [[Democratic Unionist Party]] and [[Sinn Féin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nomination of Ministers (Designate)|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports/991129c.htm#4|work=Official Report|publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly|access-date=25 October 2011|date=29 November 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829135148/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports/991129c.htm#4|archive-date=29 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the departments came under the responsibility of [[Direct rule over Northern Ireland|direct rule]] ministers from the [[Northern Ireland Office]]:
* between 12 February 2000<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/396/article/2/made/data.htm|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2000|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> and 30 May 2000;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1445/introduction/made|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>
* on 11 August 2001;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2884/article/1/made/data.htm|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2001|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2895/article/2/made/data.htm|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2001|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>
* on 22 September 2001;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3230/article/1/made/data.htm|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3231/article/2/made/data.htm|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>
* between 15 October 2002<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2574/article/1/made/data.htm|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> and 8 May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1397/article/2/made/data.htm|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2007|website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>

The 2002–2007 suspension followed the refusal of the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] to share power with [[Sinn Féin]] after a high-profile [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] investigation into an alleged [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] spy ring.<ref>{{cite news| author = Staff | title=Reid set to suspend Assembly|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/2324583.stm|access-date= 27 July 2012 |date=14 October 2002|publisher = [[BBC News]]}}</ref>

===2007–2011===
The second Executive formed in 2007 was led by the DUP and Sinn Féin, with the UUP and SDLP also securing ministerial roles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Affirmation of the Terms of the Pledge of Office – First Minister (Designate) and deputy First Minister (Designate), Appointment of Ministers & Appointment of junior Ministers|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2007/070508.htm|work=Official Report|publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly|access-date=25 October 2011|date=8 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829124049/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2007/070508.htm|archive-date=29 August 2011}}</ref> <!--*[[Democratic Unionist Party]] (5 ministers and 1 junior minister)
*[[Sinn Féin]] (4 ministers and 1 junior minister)
*[[Ulster Unionist Party]] (2 ministers)
*[[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (1 minister)-->

However, the Executive did not meet between 19 June 2008 and 20 November 2008 due to a boycott by [[Sinn Féin]]. This took place during a dispute between the DUP and Sinn Féin over the devolution of policing and justice powers.<ref>{{cite news| author = Staff | title=Water charges deferred for a year|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7738847.stm|access-date = 28 July 2012 |date=20 November 2008|publisher = [[BBC News]]}}</ref> Policing and justice powers were devolved on 12 April 2010, with the new [[Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)|Minister of Justice]] won by [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance]] in a cross-community vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=Assembly Business: Minister of Justice|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2009/100412.htm|work=Official Report|publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly|access-date=25 October 2011|date=12 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829122126/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2009/100412.htm|archive-date=29 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2011–2016===
Following the [[2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election|Northern Ireland Assembly election]] held on 5 May 2011, a third Executive was formed on 16 May 2011 with the same five parties represented.  Alliance for the first time gained administration of a department under the D'Hondt system, in addition to the Department of Justice.<!--*[[Democratic Unionist Party]] (5 ministers and 1 junior minister)
*[[Sinn Féin]] (4 ministers and 1 junior minister)
*[[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] (2 ministers)
*[[Ulster Unionist Party]] (1 minister)
*[[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (1 minister)-->

[[Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)|Peter Robinson]] of the [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]] and [[Martin McGuinness]] of [[Sinn Féin]] were nominated by their parties and appointed as [[First Minister and deputy First Minister]] on 12 May 2011. [[Traditional Unionist Voice]] leader [[Jim Allister]] opposed the joint appointment.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Minister and deputy First Minister: Appointment and Pledge of Office|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2011/110512.htm#a5|work=Official Report|publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly|date=12 May 2011|access-date=31 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613192114/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2011/110512.htm#a5|archive-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> On 16 May 2011, 10 other Executive ministers (with the exception of the Minister of Justice) and two junior ministers were appointed by their political parties. The Minister of Justice was then elected by the Assembly via a cross-community vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=Appointment of Ministers, Appointment of junior Ministers & Minister of Justice|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2011/110516.htm#a16|work=Official Report|publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly|access-date=31 October 2011|date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829090952/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2011/110516.htm#a16|archive-date=29 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 26 August 2015, the UUP withdrew from the Executive in protest over the alleged involvement of members of the Provisional IRA in the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34063087|title=Ulster Unionist Party intends to leave NI Executive|date=2015-08-26|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-19}}</ref> Danny Kennedy MLA's position as Minister for Regional Development was later taken over by the DUP, thereby leaving four Northern Irish parties in the power sharing agreement. On 10 September 2015 Peter Robinson stepped down as First Minister, although he did not officially resign. Arlene Foster took over as acting First Minister.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34206728 | title=NI first minister Peter Robinson steps aside in Stormont crisis | work=BBC | date=10 September 2015 | access-date=10 September 2015}}</ref> Robinson resumed his duties as First Minister again on 20 October 2015.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34583021 | title=DUP ministers resume Northern Ireland Executive posts | work=BBC | date=20 October 2015 | access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref>

Following the signing of the [[Fresh Start Agreement]], Peter Robinson announced his intention to stand down as leader of the DUP and First Minister of Northern Ireland. He subsequently resigned as DUP leader on 18 December 2015, being succeeded by [[Arlene Foster]]. Foster then took office as First Minister on 11 January 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-35260201|title=Arlene Foster: DUP leader becomes new NI first minister|date=2016-01-11|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-19}}</ref>

===2016–2017===
The fourth Executive was formed following the [[2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election|May 2016 election]]. The [[SDLP]], [[Ulster Unionist Party|UUP]] and [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]] left the Executive and formed the Official Opposition for the first time. Ministerial positions were proportionally allocated between the DUP and Sinn Féin, with independent unionist [[Claire Sugden]] serving as Minister of Justice. The government collapsed on 16 January 2017, after [[Martin McGuinness]] resigned in protest over the [[Renewable Heat Incentive scandal]]. His resignation sparked a [[2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election|snap election]] as Sinn Féin refused to re-nominate a deputy First Minister.

In 2018, Arlene Foster stated that the ongoing political deadlock was caused by Sinn Féin's insistence on an [[Irish Language Act]] that would grant legal status to the [[Irish language]] in Northern Ireland, which Foster's party refuses to allow.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burke |first1=Ceimin |title=Explainer: What is the Irish Language Act and why is it causing political deadlock in Northern Ireland? |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-language-act-explainer-3851417-Feb2018/ |access-date=20 September 2019 |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |language=en}}</ref>

==== Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 ====
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016
| parliament = Northern Ireland Assembly
| long_title = An Act to rename the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Department for Regional Development and the Department for Social Development; to dissolve the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Department of the Environment and the Department for Employment and Learning; and for connected purposes.
| introduced_by = {{ubl|[[Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)|Peter Robinson]], [[First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland|First Minister]]|[[Martin McGuinness]], deputy First Minister}}
| royal_assent = 29 February 2016
| status = Current
| legislation_history = https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/legislation/2011-2016-mandate/primary-legislation-current-bills/departments-bill/
| use_new_UK-LEG = yes
| UK-LEG_title = Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016
}}
The {{Visible anchor|Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016}} is an act of the Northern Ireland Assembly which reorganised the functions of the departments of the Northern Ireland Executive.

The legislative basis for departments of the Northern Ireland Executive is set out in section 17 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=McCafrey |first=Ray |date=2015-12-07 |title=The Executive Departments (Northern Ireland) Bill |url=https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2015/exec_review/13415.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519193611/https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2015/exec_review/13415.pdf |archive-date=2024-05-19 |access-date=2025-05-25 |work=Northern Ireland Assembly}}</ref> 

In 2007, the St Andrews Agreement contained a commitment to review if functions could be transferred from the Office of  the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to other departments, but this was not substantively acted upon.<ref name=":1" /> The reduction of the number of departments was first suggested in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-04-23 |title=Cut departments to save - Dodds |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8013901.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529114046/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8013901.stm |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

In 2012, [[Stephen Farry]] as Minister of Employment and Learning suggested that proposals to abolish his department were driven by the fact that he was an [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]] minister.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-01-11 |title=Stephen Farry criticises DEL abolition justice plan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16518714 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706174632/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-16518714 |archive-date=2024-07-06 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News}}</ref> [[Sammy Wilson (politician)|Sammy Wilson]], as Finance Minister, suggested that the number of departments could be reduced from 11 to 6, and this would save "tens of millions of pounds" per year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McAdam |first=Noel |date=2012-10-31 |title=Stormont downsizing row: Level of savings from reduction in departments queried |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/stormont-downsizing-row-level-of-savings-from-reduction-in-departments-queried/28879771.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529115858/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/stormont-downsizing-row-level-of-savings-from-reduction-in-departments-queried/28879771.html |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref> 

In 2014, the [[Stormont House Agreement]] included a proposal for the number of departments to be reduced from 11 to 9.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-01-21 |title=Stormont shake-up: Three departments likely to be broken up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30922226 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143902/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30922226 |archive-date=2018-08-05 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

In March 2015 Peter Robinson announced new arrangements for new departments.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-03-02 |title=NI Executive: First Minister announces new department names |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31696252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627144521/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31696252 |archive-date=2022-06-27 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
[[File:DepartmentsoftheNIexecutive2016c5.png|thumb]]
In November 2015, legislation was introduced to the assembly to reduce the number of ministers from 12 to 9 and to reduce the number of ministers from 11 to 9.<ref name=":1" /> In order to have the new structure in place before the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, it was proceeded via an accelerated passage.<ref name=":1" />

=== Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2019{{anchor|Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019}} ===
{{main|Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019}}
The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2019 was passed by the UK parliament on 10 July 2019<ref name=formation>{{cite news |last1=McCormack |first1=Jayne |title=Northern Ireland bill - what happens next? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48981703 |access-date=23 September 2019 |work=[[BBC]] |date=15 July 2019}}</ref> and became law on 24 July.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCormack|first=Jayne |title=Q&A: Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-49204480 |access-date=23 September 2019 |work=[[BBC]] |date=18 August 2019}}</ref> The main purpose of the bill was to prevent another election and keep Northern Ireland services running in the absence of a functional devolved government. However, two Labour MPs, [[Conor McGinn]] and [[Stella Creasy]], added amendments that would legalize same-sex marriage and liberalize abortion law (both devolved issues) if the DUP and Sinn Féin could not come to an agreement before 21 October.<ref name="formation" />

=== Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 ===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020
| parliament = Northern Ireland Assembly
| long_title = An Act to make provision concerning the decisions which may be made by Ministers without recourse to the Executive Committee.
| introduced_by = {{ubl|[[Arlene Foster]], [[First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland|First Minister]]|[[Michelle O'Neill]], deputy First Minister}}
| royal_assent = 25 August 2020
| status = Current
| legislation_history = https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/legislation/2011-2016-mandate/primary-legislation-current-bills/departments-bill/
| use_new_UK-LEG = yes
| UK-LEG_title = Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020
}}The '''{{Visible anchor|Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020}}''' (c. 4 (N.I.)) gives executive ministers more autonomy in making decisions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-20 |title=Landowners launch new legal bid to block cross-border electricity line |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/11/20/news/landowners-launch-new-legal-bid-to-block-cross-border-electricity-line-2135775/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529123640/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/11/20/news/landowners-launch-new-legal-bid-to-block-cross-border-electricity-line-2135775/ |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Irish News}}</ref>

While the legislation was supported by the Democratic Unionist Party, several DUP backbenchers abstained on the bill at second stage.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Gareth |date=2020-07-28 |title=DUP backbenchers defy party over bill to give ministers more power |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53572692 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822111642/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53572692 |archive-date=2022-08-22 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Two other DUP backbenchers did not attend the second stage debate on the bill.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-07-29 |title=Arlene Foster: Senior DUP figures warned her over Stormont bill |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53581681 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729130142/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53581681 |archive-date=2020-07-29 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The bill was "fast-tracked" through the assembly.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McHugh |first=Michael |date=2020-07-28 |title=Bill giving ministers more powers fast-tracked through NI Assembly |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/bill-giving-ministers-more-powers-fast-tracked-through-ni-assembly/39405440.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529130554/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/bill-giving-ministers-more-powers-fast-tracked-through-ni-assembly/39405440.html |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref> The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Doug Beattie, raised concerns that the legislation would lead to a more "combative" executive.<ref name=":2" />

The legislation clarifies the powers of the Infrastructure Minister.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Devenport |first=Mark |date=2020-07-29 |title=Infrastructure department says 'planning decisions can be made with Stormont bill' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53579009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926013017/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53579009-northern-ireland-53579009 |archive-date=2020-09-26 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

The legislation was described by Richard Bullick, a former DUP adviser, as "sleepwalking" into constitutional change.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Gareth |date=2020-07-28 |title=Bill to give ministers more power to become law |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53555109 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822111648/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53555109 |archive-date=2022-08-22 |access-date=2025-05-28 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Executive ministers supported the legislation, because a 2018 court decision relating to a incinerator at Mallusk meant that every major planning decision would require going to the executive.<ref name=":3" />

=== Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 ===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021
| type = ni act
| parliament = Northern Ireland Assembly
| long_title = An Act to amend sections 7 and 8 of the Civil Service (Special Advisers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2013, repeal the Civil Service Commissioners (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order in Council 2007, repeal the Civil Service Commissioners (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016, amend sections 17 and 27 of the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and to make additional provision for the functioning of government in Northern Ireland and connected purposes.
| year = 2021
| citation = 2021 c. 3 (N.I.)
| introduced_by = [[Jim Allister]] MLA
| royal_assent = 22 March 2021
| status = Current
| legislation_history = https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/legislation/2017-2022-mandate/non-executive-bill-proposals/functioning-of-government/
| collapsed = y
}}
The '''{{Visible anchor|Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021}}''' (c. 3 (N.I.)) is an act of the Northern Ireland Assembly which:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-15 |title=Northern Ireland Functioning of Government Act 2021 |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/explainer/northern-ireland-functioning-government-act-2021 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Institute for Government |language=en}}</ref>

* requires special advisers be subject to the same disciplinary procedure as the [[Northern Ireland Civil Service]], 
* restricts access to buildings, information and resources to official special advisers rather than unofficial special advisers,
* prohibits the two junior ministers in the Executive Office from being able to appoint special,
* makes ministers subject to the oversight of the [[Commissioner for Standards at the Northern Ireland Assembly]]
* introduces a criminal offence only applicable to special advisers and ministers of the communication of official information for the "improper benefit" of an individual
* civil servants must record all relevant meetings attended by ministers or special advisers
* ministers must record record any lobbying as defined the act and submit this in writing to their department

===Reformation===
{{Main|2024 Northern Ireland Executive Formation}}
On 11 January 2020, the Executive was re-formed with [[Arlene Foster]] as First Minister and Sinn Féin's [[Michelle O'Neill]] as deputy First Minister following the [[New Decade, New Approach]] agreement. All five parties joined the government; other ministers include [[Edwin Poots]] (DUP); [[Robin Swann]] (UUP), [[Nichola Mallon]] (SDLP), [[Gordon Lyons]] (DUP), and [[Declan Kearney]] (SF). Alliance Party leader [[Naomi Long]] was appointed justice minister. At the first session of the assembly, Foster stated that it was "time for Stormont to move forward". The new speaker of the Assembly was a member of Sinn Féin.<ref>{{cite news |title=DUP and Sinn Féin back in top jobs at Stormont |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51077397 |access-date=12 January 2020 |work=BBC News |date=11 January 2020}}</ref> The collapse of this Executive led to the [[2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election]]. 

On 3 February 2022, [[Paul Givan]] resigned as First Minister, which automatically resigned [[Michelle O'Neill]] as deputy first minister and collapsed the executive of Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-03 |title=DUP's Paul Givan resigns as Northern Ireland first minister, as Taoiseach brands it 'very damaging move' |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dups-paul-givan-resigns-as-northern-ireland-first-minister-as-taoiseach-brands-it-very-damaging-move/41307670.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Independent.ie |language=en}}</ref>

On 30 January 2024, leader of the DUP [[Jeffrey Donaldson]] announced that the DUP would restore an executive government on the condition that new legislation was passed by the UK House of Commons.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-30 |title=DUP executive endorses deal to restore devolution at Stormont |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-68136950 |access-date=2024-01-30 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Executive committee==
{{main|List of Northern Ireland Executives}}{{NI Executive}}

On 8 May 2024, [[Conor Murphy]] stepped down as [[Department for the Economy|Minister for the Economy]]. First Minister [[Michelle O'Neill]] said that [[Deirdre Hargey]] will serve as an interim [[Department for the Economy|Minister for the Economy]].<ref name=":0" />

On 3 February 2025, Sinn Fein announced a reshuffle of their ministerial posts as a result of Conor Murphy's election to the [[Seanad Éireann]], with [[John O'Dowd]] becoming Minister of Finance, [[Caoimhe Archibald]] serving as Minister for the Economy and [[Liz Kimmins]] becoming the Minister for Infrastructure.

Ministers are assisted by backbench "Assembly private secretaries" (equivalent to [[parliamentary private secretary|parliamentary private secretaries]]). The non-political [[Attorney General for Northern Ireland]] is the chief legal advisor to the Executive, appointed by the first minister and deputy first minister, and may also attend Executive meetings.

==See also==
{{Portal|Politics|United Kingdom|Northern Ireland}}

* [[Devolution in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Government spending in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Northern Ireland peace process]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/ Northern Ireland Executive]
* [http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/ nidirect/tedireach portal]

{{Northern Ireland Executive}}
{{Devolution in the United Kingdom}}
{{Governments of Northern Ireland}}
{{Northern Ireland heads of government}}
{{UK heads of governments}}
{{British-Irish Council}}
{{Government of Europe}}

{{Ireland topics}}

[[Category:Northern Ireland Executive| ]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Political office-holders in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in the United Kingdom]]