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 The Rt. Hon. Shaun Woodward, MP, supported by the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, currently 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.
[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.
The Permanent Under-Secretary of State for this department is Sir Jonathan Phillips.
[edit] Shadow Secretaries
The Conservative Party's Shadow Secretary of State is Owen Paterson MP.[2] The Liberal Democrat spokesman is Alistair Carmichael MP.[3]
[edit] Executive agencies
The following executive agencies report to ministers within the Northern Ireland Office.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
