Changes

In 1972 the UK government, deeming the Northern Ireland government unable to stabilise the situation, suspended the Northern Ireland parliament and instituted direct rule from London.  While direct rule was intended as a temporary measure, it continued throughout the course of the Troubles.

In 1972 the UK government, deeming the Northern Ireland government unable to stabilise the situation, suspended the Northern Ireland parliament and instituted direct rule from London.  While direct rule was intended as a temporary measure, it continued throughout the course of the Troubles.

== Current Government ==

== Current government ==

 

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right"

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right"

|- bgcolor=cccccc

|-

! Position ||  Current Holder

! Position ||  Current Holder

|-

|-

| [[Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland|Deputy First Minister]] || [[Martin McGuinness]] MP MLA

| [[Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland|Deputy First Minister]] || [[Martin McGuinness]] MP MLA

|}

|}

Although constitutionally the United Kingdom is a unitary state with one sovereign, parliament and government - there has been moves to give power to national legislature in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, this has taken the form of devolution. Power for certain areas of government like education, health and the environment are fully the responsibility of their national governments. However, central government maintains the right to overturn any decision by a national assembly, as such the [[Parliament of the United Kingom]] remains sovereign in the United Kingdom as a whole.   

Although constitutionally the United Kingdom is a unitary state with one sovereign, parliament and government - there has been moves to give power to national legislature in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, this has taken the form of devolution. Power for certain areas of government like education, health and the environment are fully the responsibility of their national governments. However, central government maintains the right to overturn any decision by a national assembly, as such the [[Parliament of the United Kingom]] remains sovereign in the United Kingdom as a whole.   

=== Devolution ===

=== Devolution ===

The current political set-up in Northern Ireland stems from the [[Belfast Agreement]] of 1998 which provided for an elected [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] and a power-sharing [[Northern Ireland Executive]] to be jointly headed by the leaders of the main Unionist and Nationalist parties.

The current political set-up in Northern Ireland stems from the [[Belfast Agreement]] of 1998 which provided for an elected [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] and a power-sharing [[Northern Ireland Executive]] to be jointly headed by the leaders of the main Unionist and Nationalist parties.