AQW 30844/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 10/09/2025
Answered On Date: 16/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide a copy of the assigned responsibilities given to each of the Junior Ministers, in this mandate.

Answer:

Junior Ministers are appointed under a Determination made in accordance with Section 19 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 which specifies that the function of the Junior Ministers is to assist the First Minister and deputy First Minister in the exercise of their functions in relation to The Executive Office. They may therefore be involved in all aspects of the department’s work.

Junior Ministers have specific responsibility for taking the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill through its Assembly legislative stages. They also chair the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Oversight Board. The Board reviews the implementation of the Strategic Framework, related Delivery Plans, and manages interfaces across government Departments and the public sector.

In addition, Junior Ministers work has included two visits to The Executive Office in Brussels; speaking to Motions in the Assembly; answering Oral Questions during Question Time to the First Minister and deputy First Minister; attending Business

Committee on behalf of the Executive; and meeting with stakeholders associated with key Executive objectives such as Good Relations projects and the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. They regularly engage in significant work with NSMC and BIC Institutional bodies.