Devolution of Power to Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Assembly was established following the signing of the Belfast Agreement (also known as the ‘Good Friday’ Agreement) on 10 April 1998. The Agreement was the result of extended talks between the political parties in Northern Ireland and the Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The talks covered how Northern Ireland should be governed in the future to ensure that the aspirations of all communities could be democratically accommodated.

The electorate of Northern Ireland endorsed the Belfast Agreement in a referendum held on 22 May 1998. This paved the way for new legislation (the Northern Ireland Act 1998) which defined the future institutions of government in Northern Ireland, and for collaboration between the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The referendum was followed by elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 25 June 1998, when 108 Members were elected using the single transferable vote form of proportional representation. Six members were returned from each of Northern Ireland’s 18 Westminster constituencies. Those elected are known as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

Plenary Session of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The New Northern Ireland Assembly first met in ‘shadow’ form, i.e. without powers of government, on 1 July 1998 to prepare for government. The new Assembly continued to operate in ‘shadow’ form until midnight on 1 December 1999 when powers of government were devolved to it by the United Kingdom Parliament. Following this, the Northern Ireland Assembly (the word ‘new’ being dropped from the name) could govern Northern Ireland in respect of ‘transferred matters’, and also ‘reserved matters’ with the Secretary of State’s consent. Excepted matters remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom Parliament:

• Transferred Matters: e.g Education, health and agriculture;
• Reserved Matters: e.g Policing and criminal law, which will
  be transferred to the Assembly at a later date;
• Excepted Matters: Matters of national importance, such as defence, taxation and foreign policy.

The first meeting of the New Northern Ireland Assembly took place in Castle Buildings, a Civil Service building located within the Stormont Estate. The second and subsequent meetings were held in Parliament Buildings, its present home.

Currently, there are 8 political parties represented in the Assembly who reflect the wide and diverse views and political opinion of the electorate of Northern Ireland.

1998 10 April 22 May	Belfast Agreement signed by political parties and British and Irish Governments. First election to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
1999 2 December 6 December	Power devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. First meeting of the Assembly with devolved powers.
2002 14 October	Suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
2003 26 November	Second election to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Northern Ireland Assembly remains suspended.
2006 13 October 22 November	St Andrews Agreement reached. St Andrews Agreement Act enacted.
2007 7 March 8 May	Third election to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly.