Commentary on provisions of Act Section 6 and Schedule 1: Extension of period for appointment of Ministers
Currently, Northern Ireland Executive Ministerial positions must be allocated within seven calendar days following the first meeting of the Assembly after an election. Section 6 extends the time available to allocate Ministerial positions from seven calendar days to 14 calendar days after the Assembly first sits following an election. This will allow Northern Ireland parties more time to agree a Programme for Government prior to the allocation of Ministerial positions. The change puts into effect the provisions in paragraph 61 of the December 2014 Stormont House Agreement and is aimed at promoting a more bipartisan approach to the Programme for Government.
	Subsection 2 (that inserts Schedule 1) is a transitional provision. As a result of subsection (1), the First Minister and deputy First Minister and other Ministerial offices will be appointed within a period of 14 days beginning with the first meeting of the Assembly. However, following the reduction in the number of Northern Ireland departments under the Northern Ireland Departments Act 2016, it is possible that there will be a reduction in the number of Ministers to be appointed to the Executive. The transitional provision in Schedule 1 ensures that the 14 day period for appointment of Ministerial offices is not shortened to 7 days by virtue of a reduction in Ministerial offices which takes effect during that 14 day period.