The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Ministerial Offices) Order 2009
Under section 17(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act“), each Northern Ireland Department must be headed by the holder of a different Ministerial office. Section 17(4) of the 1998 Act provides that the number of Ministerial offices may not exceed ten or such greater number as the Secretary of State may provide by order. This Order increases the maximum number of Ministerial offices to eleven.