Executive of the 2nd Northern Ireland Assembly

Direct Rule (2002-2007)
Executive of the 2nd Northern Ireland Assembly
Date formed14 October 2002
Date dissolved8 May 2007
(under the St Andrews Agreement)
People and organisations
Head of stateElizabeth II
Head of governmentSecretary of State
John Reid (Oct 2002)
Paul Murphy (Oct 2002 - May 2005)
Peter Hain (May 2005 - May 2007)
Deputy head of governmentNone
No. of ministersNone
Member partyNone
Status in legislatureDirect Rule
History
Election2003 assembly election
Legislature term2nd Assembly (never convened)
Predecessor1st Executive of Northern Ireland
Successor3rd Executive of Northern Ireland

Following the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2002 a new election was called in November 2003 in hope of restoring devolution, the election saw the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin emerge as the largest parties in the Assembly. The DUP refused to go into government with Sinn Féin meaning that direct rule would stay in place for another 5 years.

Northern Ireland had 3 Secretaries of States during the period of direct rule:

  • John Reid in October 2002,
  • Paul Murphy between October 2002 and May 2005,
  • Peter Hain between May 2005 and May 2007.

The assembly was officially dissolved in 2007 following the St Andrews Agreement.