Suspension of Devolved Government
Roles of Northern Ireland Office Ministers (2004)

Following a government reshuffle on 5 April 2004 Paul Murphy, then Secretary of State, announced the new ministerial portfolios at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

Paul Murphy MP, Secretary of State, continues to retain overall control of:

• policing;
• security policy;
• prisons;
• criminal justice;
• international relations;
• taxation;
• national insurance;
• regulation of financial services; and
• regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting.

John Spellar MP, Minister of State, will assume responsibility for:

• political development;
  
• criminal justice, human rights and equality;
  
• The Department of Social Development (DSD);
  
• The Department of Regional Development (DRD); and
  
• OFMDFM (Part).
  

Barry Gardiner MP, newly appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, will assume responsibility for:

• The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI);
  
• The Department of Education (DENI);
  
• The Department of Employment and Learning (DEL);
  

Ian Pearson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, will assume responsibility for:

• security and policing;
  
• prisons;
  
• assets recovery agency and orgqanised crime task force;
  
• review of public administration;
  
• the economic policy unit and europe;
  
• Europe (euro preparations committee);
  
• OFMDFM (Part);
  
• The Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP);
  
• The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI);
  
• The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).
  

• victims and reconciliation;
  
• The Department of the Environment (DOE);
  
• The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS); and
  
• The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL).