Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016
| Act of the 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. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2016 c. 5 (N.I.) |
| Introduced by | Jennifer McCann MLA, Minister for Health |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 29 February 2016 |
| Commencement | 8 May 2016 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 5 (N.I.)) is an act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, which reduced the number of departments from 12 to 9.
Background
[edit]In 2012, the First Minister and deputy First Minister suggested that the Department for Employment and Learning be dissolved with its powers and responsibilities to be divided between the departments responsible for enterprise and for employment.[1] Stephen Farry, an Alliance Party MLA and Minister for Employment and Learning indicated he was opposed to the proposal and that he thought that the proposal was only being offered because he was of the Alliance Party.[2] In principle, he supported the idea of reducing the number of departments, noting that the Alliance manifesto for the most recent Assembly election had mentioned reducing the number of departments to 8, but felt that it would have to be as part of looking at other departments too.[2]
The Stormont House Agreement included a reduction of the number of departments from 12 to 9.[3] The parties agreed to reducing the number of departments before the 2016 election.[4]
Provisions
[edit]The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister maintained the word "office" in its title: the "Executive Office."[4]
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is the only department with a portfolio with more than one word.[4]
Negotiations
[edit]The negotiations were consensual and without party politics with each name being discussed "entirely" on its "own merit".[5]
During the negotiations, the name of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister was possibly going to be renamed to the "Cabinet Office", but instead it became the "Executive Office".[5]
Reception
[edit]CBI Northern Ireland supported the Act.[6]
See also
[edit]- Department of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2010
- Assembly Members (Reduction of Numbers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016
References
[edit]- ^ "Proposal made to cut Stormont executive ministry". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Stephen Farry criticises DEL abolition justice plan". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Stormont House agreement addresses several key issues". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "NI Executive: First Minister announces new department names". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b Gordon, Gareth (27 February 2015). "Stormont names shake-up evokes TV comedy gold". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Restructure Northern Ireland Executive for the sake of the economy, says CBI". BelfastLive. Reach plc. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2024.