Policy background The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018
The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018 ("2018 Act") was passed on 1 November 2018 to facilitate an extended legal period for formation of an Executive in Northern Ireland. The Act:
	Extended the period during which Northern Ireland Ministers could be appointed following the election of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 2 March 2017 ("the period for Executive formation") so as to expire on 26 March 2019;1 and
	Clarified that Northern Ireland departments are not prevented from exercising their functions in the absence of NI Ministers during the period for Executive formation, so long as they are satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so and they have regard to guidance published by the Secretary of State.