Northern Ireland Executive - Definition and Overview

This article is part of the series Politics of the United Kingdom

Parliament Crown House of Lords    Lord Chancellor House of Commons    Speaker

Prime Minister Cabinet Government Departments

Scottish Parliament    Scottish Executive National Assembly for Wales    Welsh Assembly Government Northern Ireland Assembly    Northern Ireland Executive

Local government Greater London Authority

Elections: |1997 - 2001 - 2005/6 Political Parties Constitution

The Northern Ireland Executive is the (currently suspended) executive body for Northern Ireland, answerable to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

It officially took power on December 2, 1999, but was suspended on various occasions, the last effective October 15, 2002, as problems with the practicalities of power sharing mounted. While it is suspended, the functions it exercised have reverted to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The seats were allocated in a power-sharing formula and were proportional to the number of members in the Assembly.

Shortly before its final suspension, the executive consisted of

• David Trimble - First Minister (Ulster Unionist Party)
• Mark Durkan - Deputy First Minister (Social Democratic and Labour Party)
• Reg Empey - Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister (UUP)
• Seán Farren - Finance and Personnel (SDLP)
• Peter Robinson - Regional Development (Democratic Unionist Party) - had resigned on October 10
• Martin McGuinness - Education Minister (Sinn Féin)
• Dermot Nesbitt - Environment Minister (UUP)
• Carmel Hanna - Employment and Learning (SDLP)
• Nigel Dodds - Social Development (DUP)
• Michael McGimpsey - Culture, Arts and Leisure (UUP)
• Bairbre de Brún - Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Sinn Féin)
• Brid Rogers - Agriculture and Rural Development (SDLP)

Previous suspensions had lasted from February 11 to May 30, 2000, then on August 10-11, 2001, and September 22-23, 2001.

External Links

• NI Executive's Official Website (http://www.northernireland.gov.uk)