Who is the first minister of Northern Ireland today?
Rachel Newton
Updated on March 15, 2026
Nationality: Northern Ireland, Irish, United Kingdom
Also, who is Northern Ireland's first minister 2020?
On 11 January 2020, Arlene Foster was reappointed First Minister with Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin appointed deputy First Minister. They are assisted by two junior ministers: Gordon Lyons (DUP) and Declan Kearney (Sinn Féin).
Similarly, who are the new ministers in Northern Ireland? On 11 January 2020, the Executive was re-formed with Arlene Foster as First Minister and Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill as deputy first minister. All five parties joined the government; other ministers include Edwin Poots (DUP); Robin Swann (UUP), Nichola Mallon (SDLP), Gordon Lyons (DUP), and Declan Kearney (SF).
Likewise, does Northern Ireland have a first minister?
The First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (Irish: Céad Aire agus an Leas-Chéad Aire Thuaisceart Éireann, Ulster-Scots: Furst Männystèr an Deputy Furst Männystèr o Norlin Airlann) are the joint heads of government of the Northern Ireland Executive and have overall responsibility for the running of
Who is in charge of Northern Ireland?
The Northern Ireland Office is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who sits in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland is a distinct legal jurisdiction, separate from the two other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom (England and Wales, and Scotland).
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Who is Northern Ireland's Prime Minister?
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Leo Varadkar Since 2017Who was the first prime minister of Northern Ireland?
James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon, PC, PC (NI) DL (8 January 1871 – 24 November 1940), was a prominent Irish unionist politician, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.Who were the B Specials in Northern Ireland?
The Ulster Special Constabulary (USC; commonly called the "B-Specials" or "B Men") was a quasi-military reserve special constable police force in Northern Ireland. It was set up in October 1920, shortly before the partition of Ireland.Which party is in power in Northern Ireland?
2017 Westminster election – unionists 49.2%, nationalists 41.2%, others 9.6% 2015 Westminster election – unionists 50.2%, nationalists 38.5%, others 11.2% 2010 Westminster election – unionists 50.5%, nationalists 42.0%, others 7.5%When did Northern Ireland collapse?
The government collapsed on 16 January 2017, after Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.Who is the leader in Scotland?
The current First Minister of Scotland is SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who has led a government since November 2014.Who Runs Ireland?
The head of state is the President of Ireland. In keeping with the state's parliamentary system of government the President exercises a mainly ceremonial role but does possess certain specific powers. The presidency is open to all Irish citizens who are at least 35.Why did the NI Assembly collapse?
The Assembly was in a period of suspension until January 2020, after it collapsed in January 2017 due to policy disagreements between its power-sharing leadership, particularly following the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.What was the Irish Republican Army?
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and the 21st century. The late twentieth century organisation is known as the Provisional Irish Republican Army.Why did power sharing fail in Northern Ireland?
The Assembly was in a period of suspension until January 2020, after it collapsed in January 2017 due to policy disagreements between its power-sharing leadership, particularly following the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.Why Northern Ireland has no government?
The government collapsed on 16 January 2017, after Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal. His resignation sparked a snap election as Sinn Féin refused to re-nominate a deputy First Minister.Does Northern Ireland currently have a government?
Constitutional monarchy ConsociationalismWho is the first minister of England?
Modern historians generally consider Sir Robert Walpole, who led the government of Great Britain for over twenty years from 1721, as the first prime minister.Who was the last prime minister of Northern Ireland?
Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC (18 February 1921 – 3 March 1977) was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972.What is a petition of concern Northern Ireland Assembly?
Petition of Concern A notice signed by at least 30 MLAs and presented to the Speaker. It usually expresses concern about a motion before the Assembly. If the Speaker rules that the petition of concern should apply to a motion, the vote will require cross-community support.What is power sharing in Northern Ireland?
Power-sharing. The Agreement established a power-sharing system of government, based on a consociational model of democracy. Arend Lijphart designed this model for societies emerging from conflict, or those with the potential for conflict.How long did Northern Ireland go without a government?
Negotiations resume, 2018 The stalemate continued into September, at which point Northern Ireland reached 590 days without a fully functioning administration, eclipsing the record set in Belgium between April 2010 and December 2011.Who is the minister of education in Northern Ireland?
Peter Weir MLA was appointed Minister for the Department of Education and took up his role on 11 January 2020.Where is the Northern Irish Assembly?
The Assembly… The Assembly sits at Parliament Buildings, Stormont Estate, in Belfast. Members (MLAs) meet to debate issues; question Ministers; and make laws for the benefit of people in Northern Ireland.How many MLAs are there in Northern Ireland?
The public elect 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). There are five MLAs elected to each of the 18 constituencies across Northern Ireland. The Assembly is chaired by a Speaker and three deputy Speakers.Is Diane Dodds an MLA?
Diane Jean Dodds MLA (born 16 August 1958) is a Democratic Unionist Party politician in Northern Ireland. She previously sat in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2003 to 2007 as MLA for West Belfast. In 2020, Dodds returned to the Assembly as MLA for Upper Bann.What year was devolution?
The history of devolution In September 1997, there was a referendum in Scotland in which people voted for devolution. The UK Parliament then passed the Scotland Act 1998 which established the Scottish Parliament, which opened in 1999, and transferred some of the powers previously held at Westminster.Who was responsible for the Good Friday Agreement?
This is called the 'principle of consent'. Majority opinion in the future could be tested by referendum. The two main political parties to the Agreement were the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), led by David Trimble and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), led by John Hume.Why is Northern Ireland so poor?
Output and economic growth Rural areas including the North West are particularly deprived. It suffers from the highest unemployment and highest poverty rates in Northern Ireland. Infrastructure is substandard and has hampered economic development.Will there ever be a united Ireland?
In April 2017 the European Council acknowledged that, in the event of Irish unification, "the entire territory of such a united Ireland would [] be part of the European Union." The SDLP manifesto for the 2017 UK general election called for a referendum on a united Ireland after the UK withdraws from the EU.What is Northern Ireland famous for?
We like to think our Belfast shipbuilding/industrial heritage, the Titanic Museum and docks, the North Antrim coast (including the unique Giant's Causeway, and Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge), the Mourne mountain range, marvellous castles and ruins (Carrickfergus, Dunluce, Kinbane etc.), quaint and picturesque towns andWho has the majority in Northern Ireland?
2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election| Party | UUP | Alliance |
| Leader since | 31 March 2012 | 26 October 2016 |
| Leader's seat | Strangford | Belfast East |
| Last election | 16 seats, 12.6% | 8 seats, 7.7% |
| Seats won | 10 | 8 |
