Northern Ireland Office
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The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, currently Shaun Woodward MP supported by Paul Goggins MP. The NIO, based at Stormont House, has responsibility for the areas which have not been devolved to the direction and control of the Northern Ireland Assembly. These include law and order, political affairs, policing and criminal justice.
If devolution is suspended then the rule of Northern Ireland through the NIO in lieu of the Northern Ireland Executive is referred to as direct rule.
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[edit] Ministerial team
The current ministers (along with their primary responsibilities) at the NIO are:[1]
- Overall direction and control of the department
- Responsibility for the overall conduct of the Northern Ireland political process
- Responsibility for non-devolved matters which remain under the remit of the UK government
Although no longer a Minister with the department (he was previously Minister for Children), The Lord Rooker remains the Government's chief spokesman on Northern Ireland affairs in the House of Lords, along with The Baroness Farrington.
[edit] Executive agencies
The following executive agencies report to ministers within the Northern Ireland Office.
- The Compensation Agency
- Forensic Science Northern Ireland
- The Northern Ireland Prison Service
- The Youth Justice Agency
[edit] See also
- United Kingdom budget
- Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
- Northern Ireland Assembly
- Northern Ireland Executive
- Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, funded by the Northern Ireland Office
[edit] References
- ^ Media Centre - Ministerial Team. www.nio.gov.uk. Northern Ireland Office. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
