Part III

Executive Authorities

Authorities

Northern Ireland departments
21
1
Subject to subsection (2), the Northern Ireland departments existing on the appointed day shall be the Northern Ireland departments for the purposes of this Act.
2
Provision may be made by Act of the Assembly for establishing new Northern Ireland departments or dissolving existing ones.
3
If an Act of the Assembly which establishes a new Northern Ireland department provides for it to be in the charge of the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acting jointly—
a
the department shall not be regarded as a Northern Ireland department for the purposes of subsection (2) or (3) of section 17; and
b
the office held by those Ministers as the head of the department shall not be regarded as a Ministerial office for the purposes of subsection (4) of that section or section 18.