Earlier dissolution Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2016

1 earlier dissolution

1.1 dissolution motion
1.2 failure elect first or deputy first ministers
1.3 new executive departments

earlier dissolution

there several circumstances in assembly dissolved before date scheduled virtue of section 31(1) of northern ireland act 1998.

dissolution motion

under section 32 of 1998 act, assembly can dissolved if resolution such effect passed assembly, support of 72 or more members.

failure elect first or deputy first ministers

the act provides if assembly fails elect either first minister or deputy first minister within 6 weeks, election called. since enactment of northern ireland (st andrews agreement) act 2006, first minister has been nominated largest party overall, , deputy first minister has been nominated single largest party in largest community designation ( nationalist , unionist or other ) largest party overall not belong.

new executive departments

it proposed after may 2016 election there reduction in number of ministries , departments. amendments were:

the office of first minister , deputy first minister renamed executive office
the department of agriculture , rural development renamed department of agriculture, environment , rural affairs
the department of enterprise, trade , investment renamed department economy
the department of finance , personnel renamed department of finance
the department of health, social services , public safety renamed department of health
the department regional development renamed department infrastructure
the department social development renamed department communities
the department of justice remains unchanged department of justice (northern ireland)
the department of culture, arts , leisure dissolved
the department of environment dissolved
the department employment , learning dissolved

° department of education remains same.