Northern Ireland Assembly

   The Assembly established under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement sits at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, in Belfast. It comprises 108 members and is based on the principle of powersharing. It was accorded power to legislate in a wide range of areas and to elect the Northern Ireland Executive. It is the prime source of authority for all devolved responsibilities.

   The Assembly was first convened in 1998, but attempts to secure its continuing operations have been frustrated by disagreements and a marked lack of trust between the two largest Unionist parties (the Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Unionist Party) and the Sinn Féin Party. For these reasons, the Assembly was suspended on four occasions. After October 2002 responsibility for the direction of Northern Ireland government passed to the Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland Office. However, the Assembly resumed its meetings in early May 2007, following the agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP over power-sharing.

   See also: direct rule