Executive Office (Northern Ireland)

Last updated

The Executive Office
Northern Ireland Executive Office logo.SVG
Department overview
Formed1 December 1999
Preceding Department
Jurisdiction Northern Ireland
Headquarters Stormont Castle, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3TT
Employees380 (September 2011) [1]
Annual budget£78.6 million (current) & £11.2 million (capital) for 2011–12 [2]
Minister responsible
Department executive
Website www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk

The Executive Office (TEO) is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive with overall responsibility for the running of the Executive. The ministers with overall responsibility for the department are the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Contents

The department was originally known as the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), with the same capitalisation used in the department's logo. Following a change in policy in 2007 (see First Minister and deputy First Minister), the word "deputy" was then spelt with a lower-case d, but the older version of the name was retained in the logo. In May 2016, the department was renamed The Executive Office as a result of the Fresh Start Agreement.

Ministers

Until 9 January 2017, the First Minister and deputy First Minister were Arlene Foster (Democratic Unionist Party) and Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) respectively. On 9 January 2017, McGuinness resigned, forcing the vacancy of Foster's position under the rules of the Assembly. On 11 January 2020, Arlene Foster was reappointed First Minister with Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin appointed deputy First Minister. [3]

They were assisted by two junior ministers: Gary Middleton (DUP) and Declan Kearney (Sinn Féin). [4]

Responsibilities

The overall aim of The Executive Office (TEO) is to "deliver a peaceful, fair, equal and prosperous society". Its key stated objectives include: "driving investment and sustainable development"; "Tackling disadvantage and promoting equality of opportunity"; and the "effective operation of the institutions of government". [5]

TEO has the following main responsibilities: [6]

TEO's main counterparts in the United Kingdom Government are:

History

The office's first logo, used until the name change to The Executive Office in May 2016 Ofmdfm-logo.png
The office's first logo, used until the name change to The Executive Office in May 2016

A Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was officially appointed on the creation of the Government of Northern Ireland in June 1921, supported by the Department of the Prime Minister; [15] however, the office was abolished in March 1972, on the suspension of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and the introduction of direct rule.

The Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 transferred the powers of the Prime Minister to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland within the British Government. A Chief Executive of Northern Ireland briefly held office in the 1974 Northern Ireland Executive. The Secretary of State was supported by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), which was responsible for security and political affairs during the Troubles.

Following a referendum on the Belfast Agreement on 23 May 1998 and the granting of royal assent to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on 19 November 1998, a Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive were established by the United Kingdom Government under Prime Minister Tony Blair. The process was known as devolution and was set up to return devolved legislative powers to Northern Ireland. OFMDFM was one of five new devolved Northern Ireland departments created in December 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and The Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister first took office on 2 December 1999. Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the department came under the responsibility of direct rule ministers from the Northern Ireland Office:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Ireland Assembly</span> Legislature of Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Assembly, often referred to by the metonym Stormont, is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive. It sits at Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Executive is the 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. The executive is referred to in the legislation as the Executive Committee of the assembly and is an example of consociationalist ("power-sharing") government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for the Economy</span> Northern Irish government department

The Department for the Economy is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for the Economy.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is a government department in the Northern Ireland Executive, the devolved administration for Northern Ireland. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The department was called the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development between 1999 and 2016. The Minister of Agriculture previously existed in the Government of Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972, where the department was known as the Ministry of Agriculture. The current Permanent Secretary is Katrina Godfrey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Northern Ireland)</span> Defunct Northern Irish government department

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure was a devolved government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department was the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

The Department for Communities is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for Communities. The department was previously created in May 2016 following the Fresh Start Agreement and the dissolution of several departments, such as the Department for Social Development, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Department for Employment and Learning from which several functions have amalgamated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland)</span> Northern Irish government department

The Department for Infrastructure is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland)</span> Defunct Northern Irish government department

The Department of the Environment was a devolved Northern Irish government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The Minister for the Environment was overall responsible for the department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for Employment and Learning</span> Defunct Northern Irish government department

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL),, was a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department was the Minister for Employment and Learning. The department was initially known as the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (DHFETE), between 1999 and 2001.

The Department of Education (DENI) is a devolved Northern Irish government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister of Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Finance (Northern Ireland)</span> Northern Irish government department

The Department of Finance is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for Finance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Health (Northern Ireland)</span> Northern Irish government department

The Department of Health, Ulster-Scots: Männystrie o Poustie) is a devolved Northern Irish government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister of Health.

The St Andrews Agreement is an agreement between the British and Irish governments and Northern Ireland's political parties in relation to the devolution of power in the region. The agreement resulted from multi-party talks held in St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, from 11 to 13 October 2006, between the two governments and all the major parties in Northern Ireland, including the two largest, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin. It resulted in the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive and a decision by Sinn Féin to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland, courts and rule of law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Ireland Civil Service</span> Permanent bureaucracy of the Northern Ireland Executive

The Northern Ireland Civil Service is the permanent bureaucracy of employees that supports the Northern Ireland Executive, the devolved government of Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Executive of the 3rd Northern Ireland Assembly</span> Northern Ireland Executive (2007–2011)

The Second Executive is as under the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 a power sharing coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junior Minister (Northern Ireland)</span> The name given to two positions in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

The term Junior Minister, in Northern Ireland, is the name given to two positions in the Executive Office, a department in the Northern Ireland Executive answerable to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland</span> Joint heads of government of Northern Ireland

The first minister and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland are the joint heads of government of Northern Ireland, leading the Northern Ireland Executive and with overall responsibility for the running of the Executive Office. Despite the titles of the two offices, the two positions have the same governmental power, resulting in a duumvirate; the deputy first minister, is not subordinate to the first minister. Created under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, both were initially nominated and appointed by members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on a joint ticket by a cross-community vote, under consociational principles. That process was changed following the 2006 St Andrews Agreement, such that the first minister now is nominated by the largest party overall, and the deputy first minister is nominated by the largest party from the next largest community block.

The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is the chief legal adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is also responsible for appointing the director and deputy director of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)</span> Northern Irish government department

The Department of Justice is a government department in the Northern Ireland Executive, which was established on 12 April 2010 as part of the devolution of justice matters to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The department's Permanent Secretary is Hugh Widdis. It combines the previous work of the Northern Ireland Office and the Ministry of Justice, within the United Kingdom Government, which were respectively responsible for justice policy and the administration of courts in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable Heat Incentive scandal</span> Public spending scandal in Northern Ireland

The Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, also referred to as RHIgate and the Cash for Ash scandal, is a political scandal in Northern Ireland that centres on a failed renewable energy incentive scheme that has been reported to potentially cost the public purse almost £500 million. The plan, initiated in 2012, was overseen by Arlene Foster of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the then-Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Foster failed to introduce proper cost controls, allowing the plan to spiral out of control. The scheme worked by paying applicants to use renewable energy. However, the rate paid was more than the cost of the fuel, and thus many applicants were making profits simply by heating their properties.

References

  1. ↑ "Northern Ireland Quarterly Employment Survey Historical Data". Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Budget 2011–15" (PDF). Department of Finance and Personnel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "DUP and Sinn Féin back in top jobs at Stormont". 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "DUP and Sinn Féin back in top jobs at Stormont". 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Northern Ireland Budget 2011–15, page 105
  6. ↑ OFMDFM Ministers Archived 22 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Northern Ireland Office: About the NIO Archived 17 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "About us".
  9. ↑ "Nominate someone for an honour or award".
  10. ↑ "Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government".
  11. ↑ "Fire prevention and rescue - GOV.UK". www.communities.gov.uk.
  12. ↑ "Equality - GOV.UK". www.equalities.gov.uk.
  13. ↑ Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: About Defra Archived 23 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "About us".
  15. ↑ Alan J. Ward, The Irish Constitutional Tradition, p.116.
  16. ↑ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2000
  17. ↑ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000
  18. ↑ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2001
  19. ↑ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2001
  20. ↑ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
  21. ↑ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
  22. ↑ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002
  23. ↑ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2007
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.