{"id":1529,"date":"2024-01-30T18:02:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T18:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/a-stormont-deal-is-agreed-what-happens-next\/"},"modified":"2024-01-30T18:02:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T18:02:07","slug":"a-stormont-deal-is-agreed-what-happens-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/a-stormont-deal-is-agreed-what-happens-next\/","title":{"rendered":"A Stormont deal is agreed – what happens next?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Stormont deal is agreed – what happens next?<\/p>\n

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\"Michelle<\/picture><\/span>Pool<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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By Jayne McCormack<\/div>\n
BBC News NI Political Correspondent<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Devolved government in Northern Ireland will be restored after a 23-month hiatus, following a decision by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It had been blocking the working of an assembly and executive over concerns about post-Brexit trade arrangements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But now the DUP has reached an agreement with the government, subject to new legislation, which will see the party re-enter the institutions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The deal has been agreed, but the practicalities of kicking devolution back into gear still have to play out, so what happens next?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Are the parties back at Stormont yet?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Not yet, but this could all move very quickly, we are being told.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The government is expected to publish the deal in full on Wednesday, and pass the legislation in Parliament on Thursday. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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This could then lead to a recall of the assembly by Friday, or even Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>Liam McBurney\/PA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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The first order of business for members (MLAs) when they enter the assembly chamber will be to elect a new Speaker – this must happen before anything else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The election of a Speaker requires cross-community support, so a majority of unionists and nationalists must vote in favour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In 2020, Sinn F\u00e9in’s Alex Maskey took on the role.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It has traditionally rotated between unionists and nationalists, so it is probable that the parties will agree to support a unionist in the post this time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What about the first and deputy first ministers?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Once the Speaker is elected, the parties entitled to jointly lead the executive – the body that makes decisions and policy in Northern Ireland – will make their nominations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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For the first time Sinn F\u00e9in will nominate a first minister because it won the most seats in the assembly election last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The DUP, as the largest unionist party, will nominate a deputy first minister for the first time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But it is unclear who that will be.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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When Sir Jeffrey became leader he said he would lead the party from Stormont and stood for election in May 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He won a seat, but with Stormont down he remained at Westminster and Emma Little-Pengelly was co-opted into his Lagan Valley assembly seat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The party has not said who would take the post in a reformed executive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The DUP previously held the first minister post from 2007 to 2017 and again from 2020 until 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Although the titles are different. both offices hold equal weight and one minister cannot act without the other.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Parliament<\/picture><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span>Liam McBurney\/PA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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How are other ministers appointed?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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There are nine Stormont departments. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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They are shared round the parties based on how many MLAs they have using something called the d’Hondt mechanism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But one department – justice – is decided differently.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Policing and justice powers were not devolved until 2010, but the DUP did not want a Sinn F\u00e9in minister to be able to hold the post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Instead it was agreed any justice minister required a cross-community vote. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Alliance has held the portfolio for every year of devolution bar the 2016-2017 mandate, when independent unionist Claire Sugden was asked to take on the role after Alliance decided not to be part of the executive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Who will be part of the executive?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Sinn F\u00e9in and the DUP will jointly lead the executive and are also entitled to several other ministerial posts each.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Alliance saw its number of MLAs almost double to 17 in 2022’s assembly election and has indicated it would be willing to take on the justice portfolio again. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It is also expected to be eligible for a second ministry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Ulster Unionists are also entitled to a ministerial position.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The SDLP, which as the fifth-largest party has eight MLAs, has said it will not be part of the next executive and will instead go into opposition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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And then is it back to business?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Yes, and there’s already a long list of things to do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Civil servants who have been minding the shop at Stormont for nearly two years will meet their new ministers provide them with their day-one departmental briefs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It is thought a meeting of the newly formed executive will also take place relatively soon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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After 23 months of political paralysis, a mountain of work is waiting for their return.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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At the top of the list will be sorting public sector pay. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Just a few weeks ago more than 100,000 public sector workers in Northern Ireland staged a mass walkout.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nurses, teachers, transport workers, civil servants took part in the action as they have not received a pay rise in the last couple of years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The new finance minister will need to set a budget for the new financial year in April and settle those disputes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The next health minister will also face a plethora of problems – not least grappling with pay – NI health and social care staff remain the lowest paid in the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Waiting lists for elective care have been steadily worsening for the last 10 years – a substantial, sustained, and recurrent funding package is needed to tackle the backlog.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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