Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
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Minister of State for Northern Ireland | |
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Salary | £159,038 per annum (2022)[1] (including £86,584 MP salary)[2] |
Website | www |
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The secretary of state for Northern Ireland (Irish: Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann; Scots: Secretar o State for Norlin Airlan),[3][4] also referred to as the Northern Ireland secretary or SoSNI, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the Northern Ireland Office.[5] The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.
The office holder works alongside the other
History
Historically, the principal ministers for Irish (and subsequently
- the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (c. 1171–1922);
- the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1560–1922); and
- the Home Secretary (1922–1972).[6]
In August 1969, for example, Home Secretary James Callaghan approved the sending of British Army soldiers to Northern Ireland.[7] Scotland and Wales were represented by the Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Wales from 1885 and 1964 respectively, but Northern Ireland remained separate, owing to the devolved Government of Northern Ireland and Parliament of Northern Ireland.
The office of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was created after the Northern Ireland government (at
- the British monarch)
- the deputy First Minister of Northern Irelandacting jointly)
- the Minister of Justice).
Direct rule was seen as a temporary measure, with a power-sharing devolution preferred as the solution, and was annually renewed by a vote in Parliament.
The
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention (1975–1976) and Northern Ireland Assembly (1982–1986) were unsuccessful in restoring devolved government. After the Anglo-Irish Agreement on 15 November 1985, the UK Government and Irish Government co-operated more closely on security and political matters.
Following the
Formerly holding a large portfolio over
Created in 1972, the position has switched between members of Parliament from the
The secretary of state officially resides in Hillsborough Castle, which was previously the official residence of the governor of Northern Ireland, and remains the royal residence of the monarch in Northern Ireland. The secretary of state exercises their duties through, and is administratively supported by, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
The devolved administration was suspended several times (especially between 15 October 2002 and 8 May 2007) because the Ulster Unionist Party and Democratic Unionist Party were uncomfortable being in government with Sinn Féin when the Provisional Irish Republican Army had failed to decommission its arms fully and continued its criminal activities. On each of these occasions, the responsibilities of the ministers in the Executive then returned to the Secretary of State and his ministers. During these periods, in addition to administration of the region, the Secretary of State was also heavily involved in the negotiations with all parties to restore devolved government.
Power was again devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007. The Secretary of State retained responsibility for policing and justice until most of those powers were devolved on 12 April 2010.[11] Robert Hazell has suggested merging the offices of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for Scotland and for Wales into one Secretary of State for the Union,[12] in a department into which Rodney Brazier has suggested adding a Minister of State for England with responsibility for English local government.[13]
List of secretaries of state for Northern Ireland
Colour key
Conservative
Labour
Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/6am3b5js5ryvoxpz1ywfebmgvcbos33.png)
See also
- First Minister of Northern Ireland
- Great Seal of Northern Ireland
- Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Secretary of State (United Kingdom)
- Secretary of State for Scotland
- Secretary of State for Wales
- Chief Secretary for Ireland, office that existed until 1922
- Governor of Northern Ireland, office that existed from 1922 to 1973
Notes
- ^ "Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23" (PDF). 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Pay and expenses for MPs". parliament.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "2008 ANNUAL REPORT North South Council o Ministers" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "Buaileann an Tánaiste le Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann - Buaileann an Tánaiste le Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann, an Feisire Theresa Villiers – Department of Foreign Affairs". www.dfa.ie. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "Secretary of State for Northern Ireland". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Home Office". National Archives Catalogue. National Archives. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- University of Ulster. Archivedfrom the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ Melaugh, Martin. "A Chronology of the Conflict – 1972". Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). University of Ulster. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Northern Ireland Office // About the NIO". Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ^ Simpson, Mark (12 April 2010). "New era for policing and justice in Northern Ireland". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Rodney Brazier: Why is Her Majesty's Government so big?". UK Constitutional Law Association. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.