2024 Northern Ireland Executive formation
[3] In December 2021, a judge ruled that DUP ministers boycotting the North/South Ministerial Council to protest the Northern Ireland Protocol were an "abject breach of their solemn pledge"."[14] Both the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Irish Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had urged the DUP to agree to the formation of a Government.Heaton-Harris held another round of talks with the political parties on 1 November, amid speculation that the UK government could introduce legislation to delay the need for a new election.[27] In November 2022, British prime minister Rishi Sunak and Tánaiste Micheál Martin met in Blackpool at the British-Irish Council summit.Heaton-Harris invited the parties to new talks on 11 January 2023 to discuss the situation,[30] but Sinn Féin pulled out in protest at the exclusion of its president, Mary Lou McDonald, after which the SDLP refused to take part as well.[35][36] This was achieved through the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Organ and Tissue Donation) Act 2023,[37] which completed its passage through the Westminster Parliament in late February 2023.[48] In 25 January, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2024 (c. 2) was introduced to extend the period necessary for restoration of government without calling a snap election.[49] On 29 January 2024, an urgent meeting of the Democratic Unionist Party executive was called following the passing over the deadline to restore power sharing at Stormont.[58] A DUP agreement with the Sunak ministry will reportedly reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.[67] Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill was nominated as First Minister, becoming the first nationalist politician to hold the post, while the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly was appointed deputy.
Mary Lou McDonaldMichelle O'Neill2022 Northern Ireland Assembly electionNorthern Ireland ExecutiveDemocratic Unionist PartyExecutive of the 7th Northern Ireland AssemblySinn FéinFirst MinisterEmma Little-Pengellydeputy First MinisterBrexitissues with the Irish borderBrexit withdrawal agreementBrexit negotiationsIrish backstopNorth/South Ministerial CouncilNorthern Ireland ProtocolIrish nationalistrepublicanfirst minister of Northern IrelandWindsor FrameworkJeffrey DonaldsonNorthern Ireland SecretaryChris Heaton-HarrisSecretary of State for Northern IrelandUK Prime MinisterRishi SunakIrish TánaisteLeo VaradkarClaire HannaSteve BakerParliament of the United KingdomLong titleCitationRoyal assentNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2024legislation.gov.ukBritish prime ministerTánaisteMicheál MartinBlackpoolBritish-Irish Councilgeneral strikeNorthern Irelandcalling a snap electionJamie BrysonEU lawinternal tradeBritish IslesSunak ministryGreat BritainUK internal marketIrish SealoyalistsEdwin PootsSpeakernext Irish general electionEast–West CouncilIntertrade UKReutersITV News2016 referendumUnited KingdomEuropean UnionRenegotiationReferendum resultsNegotiationsWithdrawal agreementTrade negotiationTrade and Cooperation AgreementTimelineEuropean Union Referendum Act 2015GibraltarEuropean Union Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations 2016The European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016Treaties1972 Accession TreatySingle European ActMaastrichtAmsterdamEuropean ConstitutionLisbonUK opt-outs from EU legislationLegislationEuropean Communities Act 1972European Economic Area Act 1993European Union Bill 2004–05European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) BillsEuropean Union (Referendum) Bill 2013–142014 European Parliament election2015 general election2014 Clacton2014 Heywood and Middleton2014 Rochester and StroodUK accession1973 EC enlargementUK membership1975 EC membership referendumUK rebateBruges speechNo. No. No.Black WednesdayMaastricht RebelsBloomberg speechRussian interferenceBalance of Competences Review2015–16 renegotiationEuroscepticism in the UKCampaignIssuesOpinion pollingEndorsementsProject FearUnlawful campaigning allegationsPro-EU leafletRemainBritain Stronger in EuropeLabour In for BritainVote LeaveLeave.EUBeLeaveGrassroots OutLabour LeaveCampaign for an Independent BritainThe Freedom AssociationBetter Off Out