Devolved Government
Statutory Committees

For each of the eleven Departments there is a matching Statutory Departmental Committee. Section 29(1)(a) of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) requires that Standing Orders "make provision for establishing committees of Members of the Assembly (statutory committees) to advise and assist each Northern Ireland minister in the formulation of policy with respect to matters within his/her responsibilities as a minister".
In practice the role of any given Committee is to scrutinise the administration of the Department and the Minister, to advise on policy development, and to help in the initiation of legislation. Each of the Committees has a Chair and Deputy Chair allocated using the proportional d'Hondt System. Membership of Committees is in broad proportion to party strengths in the Assembly to ensure that the opportunity of Committee places is available to all Members.

Each Committee has a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role in relation to its Department and a role in the initiation of legislation. They have the power to:

• Consider and advise on Departmental budgets and annual plans within the overall budget allocation
• Approve relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee stage of relevant primary legislation
• Call for persons and papers to advise and assist Northern Ireland Ministers in forming policy
• Initiate enquiries and make reports
• Consider and advise on matters brought to the Committee by its Minister.

A statutory committee also operates to carry out a similar role in relation to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

For the Assembly elected in 2016, the number of Departments was cut to nine.

Membership of Statutory Committees 2016-2021

Northern Ireland Assembly (NIA). (2016). Membership of Statutory Committees, NIA 1/15-21, (May 2016), [PDF; 75KB]. Belfast: NIA.

See also:

Northern Ireland Assembly (NIA). (2016). Membership of Standing Committees, NIA 2/15-21, (May 2016), [PDF; 54KB]. Belfast: NIA.

Membership of Statutory Committees 2007-2011

• List of members of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
• List of members of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
• List of members of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
• List of members of the Education Committee
• List of members of the Employment and Learning Committee
• List of members of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
• List of members of the Environment Committee
• List of members of the Finance and Personnel Committee
• List of members of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee
• List of members of the Justice Committee
• List of members of the Regional Development Committee
• List of members of the Social Development Committee

Membership of Statutory Committees 1999-2002

• List of members of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
• List of members of the Committee of the Centre
• List of members of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
• List of members of the Education Committee
• List of members of the Employment and Learning Committee
• List of members of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
• List of members of the Environment Committee
• List of members of the Finance and Personnel Committee
• List of members of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee
• List of members of the Justice Committee
• List of members of the Regional Development Committee
• List of members of the Social Development Committee