Departments - List of Departments and Ministers, 1998-2002

List of Departments and Ministers

Agriculture and Rural Development
Minister: Ms Brid Rodgers (Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chair: The Rev Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party, DUP)
Deputy Chair: Mr George Savage (Ulster Unionist Party, UUP)
Areas of Responsibility:
Food; farming and environment policy; agri-food development; veterinary matters; Science Service, rural development; forestry; sea fisheries; rivers.
Contact Details:
Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT14 3SB. Telephone No.: 028 9052 4999
Email: library.dardni@nics.gov.uk     Website: http://www.dardni.gov.uk/ {external_link}

Culture, Arts and Leisure
Minister: Mr Michael McGimpsey (UUP)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chair: Mr Eamon O'Neill (SDLP)
Deputy Chair: Ms Mary Nelis (Sinn Féin, SF)
Areas of Responsibility:
Arts and culture; sport and leisure; libraries and museums; Armagh Planetarium; Ulster Historical Foundation; inland waterways; inland fisheries; Ordnance Survey; Public Record Office; language policy; lottery matters; milennium events and compnanies; visitor amenities.
Contact Details:
Interpoint, 20-24 York Street, Belfast, BT15 1AQ. Telephone No.: 028 9025 8825
Email: decalni@nics.gov.uk     Website: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/culture/culturehome.htm {external_link}

Education
Minister: Mr Martin McGuinness (SF)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chairman: Mr Danny Kennedy (UUP)
Deputy Chair: Mr Sammy Wilson (DUP)
Areas of Responsibility:
Schools funding and adminstration; special eucation; school effectiveness; school planning and provision; Schools Inspectorate; pre-school education; Youth Service; teachers (numbers and remuneration); Education and Library Boards appointments.
Contact Details:
Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, BT19 7PR. Telephone No.: 028 9127 9279
Email: deni@nics.gov.uk     Website: http://www.deni.gov.uk/ {external_link}

Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Minister: Sir Reg Empey (UUP)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chair: Mr Pat Doherty (SF)
Deputy Chair: Mr Sean Neeson (Alliance)
Areas of Responsibility:
Economic development policy; industry, IDB and LEDU; research and development, IRTU; tourism; Health and Safety Executive; Employment Medical Advisory Service; company regulation; consumer affairs; energy policy; Minderals and Petroleum Unit; NICO; company training grants schemes, Company Development Programme and Explorers.
Contact Details:
Netherleigh House, Massey Avenue, Belfast, BT4 2JP. Telephone No.: 028 9052 9900
Email: ?     Website: http://www.dedni.gov.uk/ {external_link}

Environment
Minister: Mr Dermot Nesbitt (UUP)
(20 February 2002 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chair: The Rev William McCrea (DUP)
Deputy Chair: Ms Patricia Lewsley (SDLP)
(Former Minister: Mr Sam Foster (UUP), 29 November 1999 - 20 February 2002)
Areas of Responsibility:
Planning control; environment and heritage; protection of the countryside; waste management; pollution contro; wildlife protection; local government; sustainable development; mineral resources (planning aspects); Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency; road safety; Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; transport licensing and enforcement.
Contact Details:
Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GB. Telephone No.: 028 9054 0540
Email: cmb@doeni.gov.uk     Website: http://www.doeni.gov.uk/ {external_link}

Finance and Personnel
Minister: Dr Sean Farren (SDLP)
(14 December 2001 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chair: Mr Francie Molloy (SF)
Deputy Chair: Mr Roy Beggs (UUP)
(Former Minister:Mr Mark Durkan (SDLP), 29 November 1999 - 14 December 2001)
Areas of Responsibility:
Finance; personnel; IT and common services; accommodation; legal services; NI Statistics and Research Agency; Land Registry; Rates Collection Agency; Valuation and Lands Agency; Construction Service; NI Construction Industry Advisory Council; Government Purchasing Agency; Office of Law Reform.
Contact Details:
Rathgael house, Balloo Road, Bangor, BT17 7NA. Telephone No.: 028 9127 9279
Email: dfpni@nics.gov.uk     Website: http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/ {external_link}

Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Minister: Ms Bairbre de Brún (SF)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chair: Dr Joe Hendron (SDLP)
Deputy Chair: Tommy Gallagher (SDLP)
Areas of Responsibility:
Health; social services; public health and safety; health promotion; Fire Authority.
Contact Details:
Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SJ. Telephone No.: 028 9052 0500
Email: webmaster@dhsspsni.gov.uk     Website: http://www.dhssni.gov.uk/ {external_link}

Employment and Learning
(Formerly: Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment)
Minister: Ms Carmel Hanna (SDLP)
(14 December 2001 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Chair: Dr Esmond Birnie (UUP)
Deputy Chair: Mr Mervyn Carrick (DUP)
(Former Minister: Dr Sean Farren (SDLP), 29 November 1999 - 14 December 2002)
Areas of Responsibility:
Higher education; further education; vocational training; employment services; employment law and labour relations; teacher training and teacher education; student support and postgraduate awards; training grants.
Contact Details:
Adelaide House, Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FD. Telephone No.: 028 9025 7777
Email: info.tea@nics.gov.uk     Websites: http://www.deni.gov.uk/ and http://www.tea-ni.org/index.htm {external_links}

Regional Development
Minister: Mr Peter Robinson * (DUP)
(24 November 2001 - 11 October 2002)
Chair: Mr Alban Maginness (SDLP)
Deputy Chair: Mr Alan McFarland (UUP)
Areas of Responsibility:
Transport planning; public transport; roads; rail; ports and airports; city visionin; water; strategic planning.
Contact Details:
Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GB. Telephone No.: 028 9054 0540
Email: cmb@drdni.gov.uk     Website: http://www.doeni.gov.uk/ {external_link}
* Previous Minister: Mr Gregory Campbell (DUP)
(27 July 2000 - 24 November 2001)
* Previous Minister: Mr Peter Robinson (DUP)
(29 November 1999 - 27 July 2000)

Social Development
Minister: Mr Nigel Dodds * (DUP)
(24 November 2001 - 11 October 2002)
Chair: Fred Cobain (UUP)
Deputy Chair: Ms Michelle Gildernew (SF)
Areas of Responsibility:
Housing policy; Northern Ireland Housing Executive; voluntary activity; urban renewal; community sector; Laganside Corporation; Rent Assessment Panel; Housing Beneit Review Boards; Social Security Agency; Child Support Agency; Lands Division; Independent Tribunal Service; Office of the Social Fund Commissioner; social legislation.
Contact Details:
Churchill House, Victoria Square, Belfast, BT2 4BA. Telephone No.: 028 9056 9100
Email: webmaster@dsdni.gov.uk     Website: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/ {external_link}
* Previous Minister: Mr Maurice Morrow (DUP)
(27 July 2000 - 24 November 2001)
* Previous Minister: Mr Nigel Dodds (DUP)
(29 November 1999 - 27 July 2000)

* The DUP had two members appointed as Ministers of Departments. This means that the DUP is entitled to two seats in the Executive. However as part of its protest against the Good Friday Agreement the DUP Ministers do not attend meetings of the Executive. In addition the DUP have taken the decision to resign their seats every few months and to rotate the Ministrial positions amongst DUP MLAs.