Executive of the 2nd Northern Ireland Assembly

Direct Rule (2002-2007)
Executive of the 2nd Northern Ireland Assembly
Date formed14 October 2002
Date dissolved8 May 2007
(under the St Andrews Agreement[1])
People and organisations
Head of stateElizabeth II
Head of governmentSecretary of State
John Reid (Oct 2002) [2]
Paul Murphy (Oct 2002 - May 2005) [3]
Peter Hain (May 2005 - May 2007) [4]
Deputy head of governmentNone
No. of ministersNone
Member partyNone
Status in legislatureDirect Rule [5]
History
Election2003 assembly election
Legislature term2nd Assembly (never convened)
Predecessor1st Executive of Northern Ireland
Successor3rd Executive of Northern Ireland

Following the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2002 a new election was called in November 2003 in hope of restoring devolution, the election saw the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin emerge as the largest parties in the Assembly.[6] The DUP refused to go into government with Sinn Féin meaning that direct rule would stay in place for another 5 years.

Northern Ireland had 3 Secretaries of States during the period of direct rule:[5]

  • John Reid in October 2002,[2]
  • Paul Murphy between October 2002 and May 2005,[3]
  • Peter Hain between May 2005 and May 2007.[4]

The assembly was officially dissolved in 2007 following the St Andrews Agreement.[1]

Executive committee

Office Name Term
First Minister Vacant [7] 2002–07
Deputy First Minister Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister of Education Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister for Employment and Learning Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister of the Environment Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister of Finance and Personnel Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister for Regional Development Vacant [7] 2002–07
Minister for Social Development Vacant [7] 2002–07

References

  1. ^ a b "Northern Ireland: Direct Rule - House of Commons Library". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b Toolis, Kevin (2 March 2002). "The operator". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Amazing to help Good Friday Agreement says Paul Murphy". BBC News. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2024. Paul Murphy later served as Northern Ireland Secretary, from 2002-05
  4. ^ a b "Peter Hain: Historic Troubles trials give victims false hope". BBC News. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2024. Peter Hain was Northern Ireland secretary from 2005 until 2007.
  5. ^ a b "What is direct rule for Northern Ireland?". BBC News. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2024. Direct rule was last used between 2002 and 2007 when Tony Blair was the British prime minister.
  6. ^ "Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2003". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Left, Sarah (14 October 2002). "Suspension of the Northern Ireland assembly". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 February 2024.

See also