Executive Committee
List of Ministers in the Executive

List of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive Committee

The Northern Ireland Executive Committee is the equivalent of the Cabinet of the British government. The Executive is made up of the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, and 10 Ministers each of whom has responsibility for one of the 10 Departments. There is also a system of Statutory Committees each made up of 11 Assembly members to "advise and assist" the Ministers. Following political developments and negotiations the main political parties agreed that devolved government would be re-instated on 8 May 2007. The information below also contains information on the previous administration that resulted from the Good Friday Agreement.

First Minster
Rev. Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party; DUP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former First Minister: Mr David Trimble (UUP)
(Elected 1 July 1998; obtained devolved power 2 December 1999; resigned 1 July 2001; reinstated 6 November 2001 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Former Acting First Minister: Sir Reg Empey (UUP)
(served as Acting First Minister 1 July 2001 - 6 November 2001)

Deputy First Minister
Mr Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin; SF)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Deputy First Minister: Mr Seamus Mallon (SDLP)
(Elected 1 July 1998; Resigned 15 July 1999; reinstated 29 November 1999; obtained devolved power 2 December 1999; resigned 6 November 2001)
Former Deputy First Minister: Mr Mark Durkan (SDLP)
(6 November 2001 - suspension 14 October 2002)

Agriculture and Rural Development
Minister: Ms Michelle Gildernew (SF)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Ms Brid Rodgers (SDLP)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)

Culture, Arts and Leisure
Minister: **Mr Edwin Poots (DUP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Mr Michael McGimpsey (UUP)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)

Education
Minister: Ms Caitriona Ruane (SF)
(May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Mr Martin McGuinness (SF)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)

Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Minister: **Mr Nigel Dodds (DUP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Sir Reg Empey (UUP)
(29 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)

Environment
Minister: **Ms Arlene Foster (DUP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Mr Dermot Nesbitt (UUP)
(20 February 2002 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Former Minister: Mr Sam Foster (UUP)
(29 November 1999 - 20 February 2002)

Finance and Personnel
Minister: **Mr Peter Robinson (DUP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Dr Sean Farren (SDLP)
(14 December 2001 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Former Minister: Mr Mark Durkan (SDLP)
(29 November 1999 - 14 December 2001)

Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Minister: Mr Michael McGimpsey (UUP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Ms Bairbre de Brún, (SF)
(24 November 1999 - suspension 14 October 2002)

Education and Learning
(Formerly known as the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment)
Minister: Sir Reg Empey (UUP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Ms Carmel Hanna (SDLP)
(14 December 2001 - suspension 14 October 2002)
Former Minister: Dr Sean Farren (SDLP)
(29 November 1999 - 14 December 2001)

Regional Development
Minister: Mr Conor Murphy (SF)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Mr Peter Robinson (DUP)
(24 November 2001 - 11 October 2002 )
Former Minister: * Mr Gregory Campbell (DUP)
(27 July 2000 - 24 November 2001)
Former Minister: * Mr Peter Robinson (DUP)
(29 November 1999 - 27 July 2000)

Social Development
Minister: Ms Margaret Ritchie (SDLP)
(8 May 2007 - )
Former Administration
Former Minister: Mr Nigel Dodds (DUP)
( 24 November 2001 - 11 October 2002 )
Former Minister: * Mr Maurice Morrow (DUP)
(27 July 2000 - 24 November 2001)
Former Minister: * Mr Nigel Dodds (DUP)
(29 November 1999 - 27 July 2000)

Notes:
* In the period from 1998 - 2002 the DUP was entitled to two seats in the Executive. However as part of its protest against the Good Friday Agreement the DUP ministers did not attend meetings of the Executive. In addition the DUP took the decision to resign their seats every few months and to rotate their ministerial positions amongst DUP MLAs.
** In April 2007 the DUP announced their intention to rotate their ministerial positions amongst DUP MLAs.

Source of photographs:
Publicity photographs from the 'Membership of the Northern Ireland Assembly' web page of the Northern Ireland Assembly web site.