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A Guide to the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly

During devolution the Northern Ireland Assembly meets in Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast. The Assembly elects on a cross-community basis a First Minister, a Deputy First Minister and ten Ministers with responsibility for the Northern Ireland Departments. Together these Ministers make up the Executive Committee. The Committee meets to discuss and agree on issues which cut across the responsibilities of two or more Ministers. It will prioritise Executive business and recommend a common position where necessary. The First and Deputy First Ministers are assisted by two Junior Ministers who are not members of the Executive.

The Executive will seek to agree each year and review as necessary, a Programme for Government with an agreed budget. This will be subject to approval by the Assembly after scrutiny in Assembly Committees, on a cross-community basis. Executive Portfolios are as follows:

During devolution, the Assembly has complete and autonomous control over all functions covered by the departments listed above with the exception of the Northern Ireland Office, which continues to administer prisons, policing, security and justice. It does not have tax-raising powers, but enjoys cross-border and European responsibilities not conferred elsewhere in the UK to devolved Assemblies/Parliaments.

The Assembly generates and approves primary legislation on any devolved issue and will have complete control over the Northern Ireland Treasury bloc, with the exception of NIO spending as outlined above. During devolution the Secretary of State will remain, representing Northern Ireland in the Cabinet, along with one other Minister to represent NIO function.

ASSEMBLY TERMINOLOGY

Assembly Commission

This committee, chaired by the Presiding Officer, deals with practical aspects of the Assembly such as staffing, facilities, accommodation etc. Also responsible for the running costs of the Assembly.

Bills

The stages of a Bill are:

(i) Introduction and First Stage: Assembly Member or Minister submits the text of the Bill to the Presiding Officer who verifies that is not reserved business. The title of the Bill is read out to the Assembly and ordered to be printed. It is then included in "pending future business" until a date is set for its Second Stage. (A copy is also sent to the Human Rights Commission).

(ii) Second Stage: A general debate on the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

(iii) Committee Stage Detailed: clause by clause consideration of the Bill by a committee, followed by a report to the Assembly which may contain proposed amendments to the Bill.

(iv) Consideration Stage: Consideration of and an opportunity for Members to vote on detail and amendments proposed to the Bill in Committee Stage. Other amendments may be submitted by Members up to a day before the Bill comes back to the Assembly for Consideration Stage, (in very exceptional circumstances, amendments may be proposed on the day). Amendments which are straying far from the principle of the Bill, will not be accepted.

(v) Final Stage: After receiving consent from the Secretary of State, the Bill is passed or rejected in total, with no further opportunity for amendments.

NB: There will be at least 7 days between each stage of the Bill (except in exceptional circumstances where accelerated passage is required) and a Bill which has not completed its passage by the end of an Assembly session, it will be carried over to the next.

Cross Community Support

Certain issues need cross-community support, such as measures which may lead to tax increases, or significant spending decisions. These will need:

(i) either parallel consent, i.e. a majority of those members present and voting, including a majority of the unionist and nationalist designations present and voting;

(ii) or a weighted majority (60%) of members present and voting, including at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting. Key decisions requiring cross-community support will be designated in advance, including election of the Chair of the Assembly, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, standing orders and budget allocations. In other cases such decisions could be triggered by a petition of concern brought by a significant minority of Assembly members (30/108).

Members' Interests

A Register of Members' Interests shall be compiled and will be available to the public. It will contain information on issues such as: paid directorships and employment; registered shareholdings; gifts received; travel and hospitality received etc.

Standing Orders

The rules and mechanisms that the Northern Ireland Assembly uses to carry out its legislative business.

Voting System

Voting is Westminster-style, with "divisions" at the end of debates. The Presiding Officer will ask if "the question" (i.e. the bill or motion) be decided and Members will shout out "aye" or "no". If there is no clear result from that, a division will be called. All members will leave the chamber and go into "lobbies" (corridors off the main chamber). - in this case "aye" or "no" lobbies. Tellers then count the members as they file through the lobbies.

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