Written transcript: How are the First and deputy First Ministers nominated?

Gareth McGrath, Director of Parliamentary Services, Northern Ireland Assembly: This is all covered by section 16a and 16c of the Northern Ireland Act and it really depends on a number of different, again, political considerations and whilst this is quite convoluted, section 16a of the Northern Ireland Act says that the largest party of the largest political designation will nominate the First Minister and the largest political party of the second largest designation will nominate the deputy First Minister. However, if the largest party of the largest political designation is not the largest party in the Assembly, then it is the largest party in the Assembly who will nominate to the post of First Minister and then it is the largest party of the largest political designation who will nominate to the post of deputy First Minister.

So it really does depend on the outcome of the election and the number of Members that are elected to each political party and who sign a particular designation. Once those nominations are made, then obviously the First Minister and deputy First Minister designate have to accept those nominations, have to affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office and once they have affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office, then they are now First Minister and deputy First Minister, but they both have to accept the terms of the Pledge of Office before that process is completed and then typically based on previous first sittings, they will make some opening remarks and then representatives from each of the other parties will make some remarks as well.

What happens if the First Minister and deputy First Ministers are not nominated?

If the process for filling the vacancies of First Minister and deputy First Minister is not successfully completed at the first sitting, then the Speaker will adjourn the sitting at that point and the next sitting will begin with again the process for nominating a First Minister and deputy First Minister and of course the timing of that next sitting will depend on political considerations.