First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland

{{Politics of Northern Ireland}}

The First Minister and deputy First Minister share equal responsibilities within government, and their decisions are made jointly. The First Minister is, though, the first to greet official visitors to Northern Ireland and shares the same title as their counterparts in Scotland and Wales. Specifically, they are tasked with co-chairing meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive, "dealing with and co-ordinating" the work of the Executive, and the response of the administration to external relationships.{{cite web|title=Section 2.2|url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.2-role-of-the-first-minister-and-deputy-first-minister|work=Ministerial Code|publisher=Northern Ireland Executive|access-date=18 October 2011|archive-date=7 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107182748/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.2-role-of-the-first-minister-and-deputy-first-minister|url-status=live}}

The First Minister and deputy First Minister agree the agenda of Executive meetings{{cite web|title=Section 2.11|url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.11-executive-committee-agenda|work=Ministerial Code|publisher=Northern Ireland Executive|access-date=18 October 2011|archive-date=7 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107174337/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.11-executive-committee-agenda|url-status=live}} and can jointly determine "significant or controversial matters" to be considered by the Executive.{{cite web|title=Section 2.3 (vii)|url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.3-functions-of-the-executive-committee|work=Ministerial Code|publisher=Northern Ireland Executive|access-date=18 October 2011|archive-date=7 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107183805/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.3-functions-of-the-executive-committee|url-status=live}}

The ministers' policy responsibilities include:{{cite web|title=Section 2.4|url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.4-duty-to-bring|work=Ministerial Code|publisher=Northern Ireland Executive|access-date=18 October 2011|archive-date=7 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107175601/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministerial-code/ministerial-code-2.4-duty-to-bring|url-status=live}}

• economic policy
• equality before the law
• European Union issues
• human rights
• the machinery of government (including the Ministerial Code)
• public appointments policy
• standards in public life

Two junior ministers assist the First Minister and deputy First Minister in carrying out the work of Executive Office.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/19|title=Northern Ireland Act 1998|access-date=18 October 2011|archive-date=11 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111215619/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/19|url-status=live}} They are jointly accountable to the First Minister and deputy First Minister. The incumbent junior ministers are Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin) and Pam Cameron (Democratic Unionist Party).{{cite news|title=Stormont: Michelle O'Neill makes history as nationalist first minister|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-68180505|newspaper=BBC News|date=3 February 2024}}

As originally established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the First Minister was elected by the Assembly on a joint ticket with the deputy First Minister through a cross-community vote. It was created to enable the leaders of the main unionist and nationalist parties to work together, with guaranteed joint representation of both main communities. For the purposes of a cross-community vote, MLAs were designated as unionist, nationalist, or other.

The nominees for First Minister and deputy First Minister required the support of:

• a majority of the MLAs voting in the election overall;
• a majority of the designated unionist MLAs voting; and
• a majority of the designated nationalist MLAs voting.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/16/enacted|title=Northern Ireland Act 1998|access-date=20 October 2011|archive-date=11 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111221333/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/16/enacted|url-status=live}}

This procedure was used on 2 December 1999 to elect David Trimble (Ulster Unionist Party, UUP) and Seamus Mallon (Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP). Following several suspensions of the Northern Ireland Executive, Trimble was not re-elected on 2 November 2001 due to opposition from other unionist parties. He was subsequently re-elected alongside Mark Durkan (SDLP) on 6 November 2001; on that occasion, three Alliance Party of Northern Ireland MLAs redesignated from 'other' to 'unionist' to support Trimble's nomination.{{cite news |title=Scuffles as Trimble re-elected |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1640568.stm |access-date=20 October 2011 |newspaper=BBC News |date=6 November 2001 |archive-date=4 April 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404064254/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1640568.stm |url-status=live }}

Following the St Andrews Agreement in October 2006, the appointment procedure was changed to allow for:

• a First Minister nominated by the largest party of the largest designation;{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/16A|title=Northern Ireland Act 1998|access-date=20 October 2011|archive-date=11 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111213929/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/16A|url-status=live}}
• a deputy First Minister nominated by the largest party of the second largest designation.

This procedure, which removed the need for a joint ticket between the unionist Democratic Unionist Party and the nationalist Sinn Féin party, was used to appoint Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness on 8 May 2007. It was again used to appoint Peter Robinson (DUP) alongside McGuinness on 5 June 2008 and again on 12 May 2011, and to appoint Arlene Foster (DUP) alongside McGuinness on 11 January 2016, also to appoint Foster alongside Michelle O'Neill on 11 January 2020, as well as to appoint Paul Givan alongside O'Neill on 17 June 2021.

The new rules from 2006 also state that, if the largest party of the largest designation happens not to also be the largest party in the assembly overall, then the appointment procedure would be as follows:

• a First Minister nominated by the largest party overall;
• a deputy First Minister nominated by the largest party of the largest designation.[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47 Northern Ireland Act 1998], s 16C(6).

This method of selection was first used in 2024, after the DUP ended its Stormont boycott following agreed changes with the UK government regarding post-Brexit trading relations affected by the Northern Ireland protocol and the implementation of the Windsor Framework. Sinn Féin was the largest party in the Assembly after the 2022 Assembly Election, but the Unionist parties were the largest designation in the assembly.

The Minister of Justice is now the only Northern Ireland Executive minister elected by cross-community vote. All other ministers are party appointees, with parties taking turns using the D'Hondt method.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/21A|title=Northern Ireland Act 1998|access-date=20 October 2011|archive-date=3 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803180536/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/21A|url-status=live}}

The First Minister or deputy First Minister may also appoint another Northern Ireland Executive Minister to exercise the functions of the office during a vacancy, currently for a continuous period up to six weeks.

Vacancies have occurred on four occasions to date:

; First Minister

• Reg Empey for David Trimble (1 July 2001 – 6 November 2001)
• Arlene Foster for Peter Robinson (11 January 2010 – 3 February 2010)
• Arlene Foster for Peter Robinson (10 September 2015 – 20 October 2015)

; deputy First Minister

• John O'Dowd for Martin McGuinness (20 September 2011 – 31 October 2011)

In the Irish language, the literal translation of these positions is "Céad-Aire agus an leas Chéad-Aire". The titles appear in both English and Irish in published literature by the North-South Ministerial Council, one of the "mutually inter-dependent" institutions laid out in the Good Friday Agreement, along with the Northern Ireland Assembly.{{cite web |title=AN TRÍÚ CRUINNIÚ IOMLÁNACH DÉAG ARD MHACHA |url=https://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/sites/northsouthministerialcouncil.org/files/publications/%5Bcurrent-domain%3Amachine-name%5D/final_joint_communique_-_plenary_-_irish_-_18_november_2011.pdf |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320001849/https://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/sites/northsouthministerialcouncil.org/files/publications/[current-domain%3Amachine-name]/final_joint_communique_-_plenary_-_irish_-_18_november_2011.pdf |archive-date=20 Mar 2021 |language=Irish |date=18 Nov 2011 |url-status=live}}

Various ways of translating the titles "First Minister and deputy First Minister" into the Ulster Scots dialects have been attested in official communications, including {{lang|sco|Heid Männystèr an tha Heid Männystèr depute}}, {{lang|sco|First Meinister an First Meinister depute}},{{Cite web|url=http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/nsmc_annual_report_2011_ulster_scots.pdf|title=North/South Ministerial Council: 2011 Annual Report, Ulster Scots|access-date=27 June 2012|archive-date=2 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902232802/http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/nsmc_annual_report_2011_ulster_scots.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/annual_report_2010_ulster_scots.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227120523/http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/annual_report_2010_ulster_scots.pdf|url-status=dead|title=North-South Ministerial Council: 2010 Annual Report, Ulster Scots|archivedate=27 February 2013}} {{lang|sco|First Meenister an First Meenister depute}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/ulster_scots_nsmc_2009_annual_report-3.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401014648/http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/ulster_scots_nsmc_2009_annual_report-3.pdf|url-status=dead|title=North/South Ministerial Council: 2009 Annual Report, Ulster Scots|archivedate=1 April 2014}} and {{lang|sco|First Minister an First Minister depute}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/nsmc_2008_annual_report_ulster_scots-6.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829113246/http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/nsmc_2008_annual_report_ulster_scots-6.pdf|url-status=dead|title=North/South Ministerial Council: 2008 Annual Report, Ulster Scots|archivedate=29 August 2011}}

The second position has been written as "Deputy" or "deputy" First Minister, due to differing preferences by civil servants (and potentially ministers), although the capitalisation of the title has no constitutional consequences in practice.

The first two holders of the office, Seamus Mallon and Mark Durkan, were both referred to during their periods of office as "Deputy First Minister", with a capital 'D'. In the Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, which established the executive in Northern Ireland, the two positions are spelt "First Minister and Deputy First Minister" (with a capital 'D').{{cite web|title=The Belfast Agreement|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-belfast-agreement|publisher=gov.uk|access-date=30 June 2017 |date=18 November 2008|archive-date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629023326/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-belfast-agreement |url-status=live}} This was also adopted in 1999 for the logo of the OFMDFM. Several weeks after Martin McGuinness took up office as Deputy First Minister in 2007, civil servants in his department began asking the Assembly's Hansard team to replace the capital 'D' with a lower-case 'd', pointing out that the title was rendered that way in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the legislation which established the office. Some believe that the case change was advocated to highlight the fact that the position holds the same power as the position of First Minister, but a spokesman for McGuinness said that neither McGuinness nor his advisers had asked for the change. Speaker William Hay ordered the change and the capital 'D' was no longer used in Hansard references.

Officials edited the department's archive of press releases to make that change (despite its use by Mallon and Durkan when in office) but the capital 'D' still appears in some places, and a spokesman confirmed on 20 March 2008 that the office had "no plans" to change the OFMDFM logo. However, the Assembly committee that scrutinises their work is now listed as the "Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister". Ultimately it was decided that McGuinness should be referred to as the deputy First Minister, unless all the other letters in the title are in capitals. Confusion isn't completely resolved however; if McGuinness wrote to the Assembly committee that scrutinised his work, his note would have a letterhead that comes from the "Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister", but he would get a reply back from the Committee for the "Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister".{{cite web | title = Martin's D-lemma: lowering the case of the minister's title took top aides weeks | url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/martins-dlemma-lowering-the-case-of-the-ministers-title-took-top-aides-weeks-13395527.html | work = Belfast Telegraph | date = 21 March 2008 | access-date = 1 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121013132531/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/martins-dlemma-lowering-the-case-of-the-ministers-title-took-top-aides-weeks-13395527.html | archive-date= 13 October 2012}}

In official language, the positions are sometimes abbreviated to FM/dFM.{{cite web |title=Letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister |url=http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/assem_exec/2007mandate/reports/report22_08_09R.htm#Correspondenceofmdfm|work=First Report on the Arrangements for the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters |publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly |access-date=5 December 2011 |date=18 November 2008 |archive-date=13 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213203338/http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/assem_exec/2007mandate/reports/report22_08_09R.htm#Correspondenceofmdfm |url-status=live}}

Sinn Féin started using the phrases "Joint First Minister" and "Co-First Minister" in 2009 to describe the deputy First Minister to highlight the fact that the First Minister and deputy First Minister operated in tandem. Martin McGuinness used the term Joint First Minister himself when he arrived for a meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in February 2009; the DUP denounced the term as "republican speak" and it is not used in legislation.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7895470.stm |title=Are all things created equal? |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923163915/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7895470.stm |archivedate=23 September 2021 |website=BBC News |date=17 February 2009}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/02/our_conjoined_ministers.html |title=Our conjoined ministers |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718000110/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/02/our_conjoined_ministers.html |archivedate=18 July 2019 |work=BBC News |series=The Devenport Diaries |date=19 February 2009}} Jim Allister, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice, long called Robinson and McGuinness "the joint first ministers", to highlight the joint nature of the office and to demonstrate his opposition to the power-sharing arrangements.

With the restoration of power-sharing in 2020, Sinn Féin started describing the position as "joint head of government".{{cite news |last=Moriarty |first=Gerry |title='It's Sinn Féin against the rest': NI Executive in conflict over coronavirus |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/it-s-sinn-f%C3%A9in-against-the-rest-ni-executive-in-conflict-over-coronavirus-1.4218130 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=2 April 2020 |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120105147/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/it-s-sinn-f%C3%A9in-against-the-rest-ni-executive-in-conflict-over-coronavirus-1.4218130 |url-status=live}}

File:Scottish and Northern Ireland Ministers.jpg (right) meets Ian Paisley (centre) and Martin McGuinness in 2008.]]

Following a referendum on the Belfast Agreement on 23 May 1998 and subsequent the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland Assembly was established in 1998 with a view to assuming devolved powers from the Westminster Parliament. On 1 July 1998, David Trimble (UUP) and Seamus Mallon (SDLP) were nominated and elected First Minister and deputy First Minister designates respectively. Eventually, on 2 December 1999, power was devolved and Trimble and Mallon formally took office as joint heads of the Northern Ireland Executive.

On 6 November 2001, Mark Durkan (SDLP) became deputy First Minister after Seamus Mallon's retirement. The Executive and the two positions were suspended between 15 October 2002 and 8 May 2007 following a breakdown in trust between the parties.

On 8 May 2007, Ian Paisley (DUP) and Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) were appointed First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively in line with the agreement between their two parties on 26 March 2007.

Paisley stated his intention to resign on 4 March 2008.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7277886.stm Paisley to quit as first minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305082240/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7277886.stm |date=5 March 2008 }} BBC News, 4 March 2008 His Deputy as DUP leader, Peter Robinson was ratified as Democratic Unionist Party leader designate on 17 April 2008[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7353569.stm Robinson confirmed as DUP leader] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421144245/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7353569.stm |date=21 April 2008 }} BBC News, 17 April 2008 and became First Minister on 5 June 2008. Arlene Foster succeeded Peter Robinson as DUP leader on 18 December 2015, and as First Minister on 11 January 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-35260201|title=Arlene Foster: DUP leader becomes new NI first minister|work=BBC News |date=11 January 2016|access-date=15 May 2021|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506074500/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-35260201|url-status=live}}

After more than 20 DUP MLAs and four DUP MPs signed a letter "... voicing no confidence in her leadership", Foster resigned as party leader on 28 May 2021, and as First Minister in June 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56910045|title=Arlene Foster announces resignation as DUP leader and NI first minister|website=BBC News|date=28 April 2021|access-date=15 May 2021|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428150537/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56910045|url-status=live}} Her successor as the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Edwin Poots, said he would not become the First Minister.{{cite news |title=Edwin Poots to consult with the DUP over first minster |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57133382 |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=BBC News |date=16 May 2021 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516080051/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57133382 |url-status=live }} Instead, DUP MLA Paul Givan was nominated for First Minister by Poots.{{cite news |last1=Kelpie |first1=Colm |title=Paul Givan nominated by Edwin Poots as NI's new first minister |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57399375 |access-date=15 June 2021 |work=BBC News |date=2021-06-08 |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610173810/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57399375 |url-status=live }} Despite concerns by Sinn Féin that an Irish Language Act would not pass, following talks with the British government they agreed to renominate Michelle O'Neill for deputy First Minister.{{cite news |last1=Pogatchnik |first1=Shawn |title=Midnight breakthrough saves Northern Ireland power-sharing |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/midnight-breakthrough-saves-northern-ireland-power-sharing/ |access-date=17 June 2021 |work=POLITICO |date=2021-06-17 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617025518/https://www.politico.eu/article/midnight-breakthrough-saves-northern-ireland-power-sharing/ |url-status=live }} However, 24 of the DUP's 28 MLAs voted against Givan, leading to Poots' resignation as party leader.{{cite news |title=DUP to begin process of finding new leader after Edwin Poots resigns |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57521972 |access-date=18 June 2021 |work=BBC News |date=2021-06-18 |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618070414/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57521972 |url-status=live }}

Separately, between 12 February 2000[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/396/contents/made Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2000 S.I. 2000/396] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218081613/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/396/contents/made |date=18 December 2010 }}. and 30 May 2000,[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1445/contents/made Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000 2000/1446] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120804223028/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1445/contents/made |date=4 August 2012 }}. and 15 October 2002{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2574/contents/made|title=The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002|access-date=16 March 2011|archive-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218081637/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2574/contents/made|url-status=live}} and 8 May 2007,[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1397/introduction/made The Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2007 S.I. 2007/1397] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424140628/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1397/introduction/made |date=24 April 2011 }}. however, devolution was suspended, and along with it the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister. The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister became the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. There were also two 24-hour periods of suspension on 11 August 2001[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2884/contents/made Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2001 S.I. 2001/2884] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218081814/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2884/contents/made |date=18 December 2010 }}.[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2895/contents/made Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2001 S.I. 2001/2895] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218081804/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2895/contents/made |date=18 December 2010 }}. and 22 September 2001.[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3230/contents/made Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001 S.I. 2001/3230] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218081759/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3230/contents/made |date=18 December 2010 }}.[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3231/contents/made Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001 S.I. 2001/3231] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218081819/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3231/contents/made |date=18 December 2010 }}. to allow timetables for negotiation to restart.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2933947.stm |title=Northern Ireland chronology: 2001 |work=BBC News |date=9 April 2003 |access-date=15 March 2011 |archive-date=31 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040731123454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2933947.stm |url-status=live }} Devolution was suspended from 10 January 2017 to 10 January 2020.[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/10/northern-ireland-assembly-to-reopen-after-three-year-suspension Northern Ireland Assembly to reopen after three years of suspension] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209025341/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/10/northern-ireland-assembly-to-reopen-after-three-year-suspension |date=9 February 2020 }} 2020-01-10

{{legend2|{{party color|Ulster Unionist Party}}|Ulster Unionist Party|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}|Social Democratic and Labour Party|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}}|Democratic Unionist Party|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Sinn Féin}}|Sinn Féin|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

During the periods of suspension, the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland assumed the responsibilities of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

{{#tag:timeline|

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bar:Paisley

bar:Robinson

bar:Foster

bar:Givan

bar:O'Neill

Define $dy2 = 8

Define $centerpos1 = align:center shift:( 0, $dy2)

Define $dy3 = 23

Define $centerpos2 = align:center shift:( 0, $dy3)

Define $dy4 = 35

Define $centerpos3 = align:center shift:( 0, $dy4)

LineData=

at: 14/10/2002 color:blue layer:front width:0.1

at: 08/05/2007 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 09/01/2017 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 11/01/2020 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 04/02/2022 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 01/02/2024 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

PlotData=

width:7 align:left fontsize:10 shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

barset:PM

bar:Trimble

from: 01/07/1998 till: 01/07/2001 color:UUP

from: 06/11/2001 till: 14/10/2002 color:UUP text:"David Trimble"

bar:Empey

from: 01/07/2001 till: 06/11/2001 color:UUP text:"Reg Empey"

bar:Reid

from: 14/10/2002 till: 24/10/2002 color:LAB text:"John Reid"

bar:Murphy

from: 24/10/2002 till: 06/05/2005 color:LAB text:"Paul Murphy"

bar:Hain

from: 06/05/2005 till: 08/05/2007 color:LAB text:"Peter Hain"

bar:Paisley

from: 08/05/2007 till: 05/06/2008 color:DUP text:"Ian Paisley"

bar:Robinson

from: 05/06/2008 till: 11/01/2010 color:DUP

from: 03/02/2010 till: 10/09/2015 color:DUP

from: 20/10/2015 till: 11/01/2016 color:DUP text:"Peter Robinson"

bar:Foster

from: 11/01/2010 till: 03/02/2010 color:DUP

from: 10/09/2015 till: 20/10/2015 color:DUP

from: 11/01/2016 till: 09/01/2017 color:DUP

from: 11/01/2020 till: 14/06/2021 color:DUP text:"Arlene Foster" fontsize:10

bar:Givan

from: 17/06/2021 till: 03/02/2022 color:DUP text:"Paul Givan"

bar:O'Neill

from: 03/02/2024 till: $now color:SF text:"Michelle O'Neill"

bar:Country textcolor:black fontsize:S

at:01/01/2005 $centerpos3 text:"Direct Rule"

at:01/08/2018 $centerpos3 text:"Office Vacant"

at:01/03/2023 $centerpos3 text:"Office Vacant"

at:01/01/2005 $centerpos2 text:"(2002–2007)"

at:01/08/2018 $centerpos2 text:"(2017–2020)"

at:03/02/2023 $centerpos2 text:"(2022–2024)"

}}

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:18

PlotArea = top:25 bottom:80 right:130 left:20

AlignBars = late

Colors =

id:canvas value:gray(0.8)

id:UUP value:rgb(0.28,0.64,0.93) legend:Ulster_Unionist_Party

id:SDLP value:rgb(0.16,0.66,0.17) legend:Social_Democratic_Labour_Party

id:DUP value:rgb(0.83,0.42,0.30) legend:Democratic_Unionist_Party

id:SF value:rgb(0.2,0.40,0.38) legend:Sinn_Féin

id:LAB value:rgb(0.86,0.14,0.12) legend:Labour_Party

id:gray1 value:gray(0.8)

id:gray2 value:gray(0.9)

Define $now = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/07/1998 till:31/12/{{#time:Y|+1}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:2 start:1999

ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:2000

Legend = columns:3 left:150 top:40 columnwidth:200

TextData =

pos:(20,40) textcolor:black fontsize:M

text:"Political parties:"

BarData =

barset:PM

bar:Country

bar:Mallon

bar:Durkan

bar:Reid

bar:Murphy

bar:Hain

bar:McGuinness

bar:Robinson

bar:O'Dowd

bar:O'Neill

bar:Little-Pengelly

Define $dy2 = 8

Define $centerpos1 = align:center shift:( 0, $dy2)

Define $dy3 = 23

Define $centerpos2 = align:center shift:( 0, $dy3)

Define $dy4 = 35

Define $centerpos3 = align:center shift:( 0, $dy4)

LineData=

at: 14/10/2002 color:blue layer:front width:0.1

at: 08/05/2007 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 09/01/2017 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 11/01/2020 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 04/02/2022 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

at: 01/02/2024 color:blue layer:back width:0.1

PlotData=

width:7 align:left fontsize:10 shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

barset:PM

bar:Mallon

from: 01/07/1998 till: 06/11/2001 color:SDLP text:"Seamus Mallon"

bar:Durkan

from: 06/11/2001 till: 14/10/2002 color:SDLP text:"Mark Durkan"

bar:Reid

from: 14/10/2002 till: 24/10/2002 color:LAB text:"John Reid"

bar:Murphy

from: 24/10/2002 till: 06/05/2005 color:LAB text:"Paul Murphy"

bar:Hain

from: 06/05/2005 till: 08/05/2007 color:LAB text:"Peter Hain"

bar:McGuinness

from: 08/05/2007 till: 20/09/2011 color:SF

from: 30/10/2011 till: 09/01/2017 color:SF text:"Martin McGuinness"

bar:O'Dowd

from: 20/09/2011 till: 30/10/2011 color:SF text:"John O'Dowd"

bar:O'Neill

from: 11/01/2020 till: 14/06/2021 color:SF

from: 17/06/2021 till: 03/02/2022 color:SF text:"Michelle O'Neill"

bar:Little-Pengelly

from: 03/02/2024 till: $now color:DUP text:"Emma Little-Pengelly"

bar:Country textcolor:black fontsize:S

at:01/01/2005 $centerpos3 text:"Direct Rule"

at:01/08/2018 $centerpos3 text:"Office Vacant"

at:01/03/2023 $centerpos3 text:"Office Vacant"

at:01/01/2005 $centerpos2 text:"(2002–2007)"

at:01/08/2018 $centerpos2 text:"(2017–2020)"

at:03/02/2023 $centerpos2 text:"(2022–2024)"

}}

• Executive Office
• Junior Minister (Northern Ireland)
• List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies
• List of government ministers in Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Executive

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk Executive Office]

{{Northern Ireland heads of government}}

{{UK heads of governments}}

{{Northern Ireland Executive}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:First Minister And Deputy First Minister}}

Category:1998 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Collective heads of state

Category:Northern Ireland Executive