Commentary on provisions of the Act Section 1: Exercise of functions by Northern Ireland departments
This section extends existing provisions in NIEFA 2022 which clarify the exercise of Northern Ireland departmental functions by senior officers. This provision will continue to apply during the current period where there is no Executive, until the NI Ministerial offices are next filled.
	This ensures that the absence of Ministers does not prevent a senior officer of a Northern Ireland department from exercising a function of the department if she or he is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so until an Executive is next formed. The Secretary of State remains under a requirement to publish guidance about the exercise of these departmental functions, including guidance as to the principles to be taken into account in deciding whether or not to exercise a function, and senior officers of departments are required to have regard to that guidance.