:: The Executive Office – Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly – 5/10 - John Manley, Politics Correspondent
The Executive Office is the cockpit of the regional administration. In terms of resources and responsibilities, it’s relatively small, fulfilling a symbolic role as much as a functional one.
Headed jointly by the first and deputy first ministers, it co-ordinates Stormont’s eight other departments and organises regular meetings of the executive.
Given its limited remit, its effectiveness is difficult to gauge.
Yes, First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly present a positive, professional image when attending public engagements or representing the executive on an international stage.
They should be applauded for working together and promoting a message of reconciliation that recognises difference. Ms O’Neill in particular deserves praise for attending November’s Remembrance event in Belfast.
But over the past 12 months, there’s been minimal and selective media engagement, suggesting a reluctance on the part of both to face difficult questioning. Everywhere else in these islands, political leaders put themselves forward for scrutiny on a weekly basis, rather than focusing on a superficial social media presence.
So far their tenure has been more about style than substance.
:: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – Andrew Muir – 6/10 - John Manley, Politics Correspondent
With agriculture and environment, Andrew Muir straddles two conflicting areas. He’s the first minister at Stormont to publicly acknowledge that the former has been supported to the detriment of the latter.
He’s also arguably the executive’s most engaging minister, and one that’s not afraid of meeting those who don’t share his world view or priorities. The fact that he’s yet to be publicly criticised by the Ulster Farmers Union is an achievement in itself, though it’s clear Stormont’s first openly gay minister has made a deliberate effort to ingratiate himself with this most conservative of lobby groups.
His opposition to Labour’s inheritance tax changes and unwavering backing for financial support for farmers show he’s a carrot rather than a stick man when it comes to policy implementation.
But while he makes the right noises on the environment, his actions have been far from decisive. It’s clear slurry has played a key part in poisoning Lough Neagh and other waterways yet there are no immediate plans to curb its use. The belated establishment of environmental protection agency is still some way off and he needs to get the rest of his executive colleagues on board when it comes to the regional response to climate change.
:: Department for Communities – Gordon Lyons – 5/10 - John Manley, Politics Correspondent
In many people’s eyes, Gordon Lyons bears some of the responsibility for the failure to get Casement Park built in time for the 2028 Euros. While certainly not a cheerleader for the project, it’s unfair to the lay blame at his door for what was a catalogue of failures over many years from a variety of organisations and individuals – in particular Chris Heaton-Harris.
His remit in DfC, compared to other departments, is reasonably narrow, as much of welfare legislation is reserved. He does have responsibility over housing, an area of increasing importance as supply dries up.
The minister has announced a housing supply strategy that aims to see at least 100,000 new homes built between now and 2039. It’s difficult to judge the merits of what is ostensibly a good plan until a few years down the line, as similar pledges were made by his predecessor.
He takes credit for securing a £100 one-off winter fuel payment for vulnerable pensioners following Labour’s decision to scrap the universal payment but at the same time must also bear responsibility for the fact that it won’t be paid until March.
Being taken to court, alongside the Executive Office, for being the latest Stormont minister who’s failed to put in place an anti-poverty strategy is a not a particularly good look.
:: Department for the Economy – Conor Murphy - 9/10 - Gary McDonald, Business Editor
He’s easily banked the most air miles of any minister in the last year, leading fact-finders and trade missions to regions as far flung as Singapore. And although he mightn’t be around the corridors of power at Stormont for much longer if he succeeds in his ambition to bag to a seat in the Oireachtas, he’s arguably left the strongest year-one legacy of any Stormont minister.
On appointment he set out a clear direction, with key priorities to increase the number of so-called “good jobs”, to raise productivity, decarbonise economy, and drive forward regional balance. Progress of sorts has been made in their delivery in the first (maybe last?) 12 months of his tenure.
He’s also been the most media-friendly and savvy of all ministers, and in the case of this newspaper he has facilitated two fully-fledged sit-down business interviews (others in the Executive take note).
But delivery issues still remain in areas around the Ulster University Magee expansion and how he might challenge the British government following the introduction of its new visa Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) waiver scheme, which could stymie growth in tourism numbers. Overall, Murphy rates high on achievement.
:: Department of Finance - Dr Caoimhe Archibald - 7/10 - Gary McDonald, Business Editor
Like previous ministers in this largely desk-found portfolio, there can be a disadvantage by having a somewhat invisible public persona (Máirtín Ó Muilleoir was the exception). But while Caoimhe Archibald hasn’t often been seen, she’s being heard.
Her first act in office was to secure agreement to a pay deal with the trade unions in the Civil Service and support other pay deals across the public sector. In May, following intensive negotiations, an Interim Fiscal Framework was signed securing a commitment from Treasury to review how the Executive is funded going forward.
And then in December, ministers agreed her draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year, which is out for public consultation until March 13. It’s a weighty document, mired in big numbers, and has her fingerprints all over it, so her reputation could rise or fall depending on the feedback.
For now, she has just released a strategic roadmap for comprehensive rates reform in the north, which aims to reshape revenue generation, with the rating system currently contributing £1.5 billion annually to essential public services. As part of this, her department will conduct reviews of two critical rating policies - Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) and Non-Domestic Vacant Rating (NDVR) - which both have significant implications for businesses and urban regeneration. Heavy stuff indeed, but she’s getting on with it - even if it’s mostly out of view.
:: Department for Infrastucture John O’Dowd - 5/10 Conor Coyle
A succession of ministers have tried and failed to make a success of the Infrastructure post in what is an unforgiving brief.
Some were surprised when Sinn Féin picked the portfolio and installed John O’Dowd in the role, perhaps in an attempt to finally oversee work beginning on the much-delayed and challenged A5 road.
A further legal challenge has been brought but it is expected that work will begin on the major road upgrade this year in an effort to improve safety on the main road between Derry and Dublin.
Closer to Belfast, Mr O’Dowd has been under pressure over traffic congestion in Belfast which was exacerbated by the opening of the new £340million Grand Central Station.
His message for the public to use public transport to avoid congestion is most likely a genuine one, but one which misses the point made by many that our bus and rail systems here are simply not good enough and too expensive to be considered a viable alternative.
While the First and Deputy First Ministers were also highly visible through the impact of Storm Éowyn and his department worked to clear damage caused to roads and rail lines, Mr O’Dowd remained absent from the public eye.
:: Department of Health - Mike Nesbitt - 6/10 Allan Preston
STRIKES and doom-laden budget announcements across health and social care have been a steady feature in the first year of Stormont’s return.
The recent announcement that resident doctors have accepted a pay deal – along with other health workers – give hope there will at least be less picket lines in 2025.
With the UUP’s Robin Swann handing over the baton to Mike Nesbitt in June, several plans have been unveiled to transform services.
They include the ‘Live Better’ initiative to reduce health inequalities and a plan to reorganise hospitals in Northern Ireland – concentrating specialities together but with longer journey times for patients.
While experts have repeatedly warned that a growing and ageing population will inevitably overwhelm services, structural reform is inescapably expensive in the short term.
The familiar problem is that Northern Ireland’s healthcare is only funded in one-year stretches, which limits the opportunities to plan ahead.
Mike Nesbitt does appear sincere in his efforts to produce a future vision for healthcare, but it has put him on a collision course with his Executive colleagues who are being asked for more than £8.4bn – half of Northern Ireland’s entire budget.
The latest estimate is that health and social care will be £400m under budget for 2024/25, with a risky hope that in-year monitoring rounds will save the day.
Even if the Department does manage to break even financially, there is still no extra money for waiting lists and the pressure on hospital back doors will remain with hundreds of medically fit patients unable to get suitable community care and ambulances waiting for nearly a day outside emergency departments.
Other pressure points in the system issues include the “omnishambles” of the long-awaited maternity hospital in Belfast, over-stretched GPs facing burnout, a chronic shortage of mental health funding and record numbers of children in care due to a staffing crisis in social care.
Department of Education - Paul Givan - 7/10 - Suzanne McGonagle, Education Reporter
Paul Givan hit the ground running when he took on the education portfolio, revealing one of his first priorities was to resolve the teachers pay row.
And he wasted no time, managing to navigate his way through the teacher strike, resulting in a breakthrough just weeks later when teachers voted to accept a pay offer.
There was praise for the DUP minister when he enjoyed a spot of Ceili dancing during his first visit to an Irish medium school and saying the Irish language “belongs to all of us” in a change of tone from the DUP
He has made some progress on the big issues in education, in particular helping make childcare more affordable for families.
A £25million package of measures offers all children 22.5 hours pre-school education per week and reduced childcare bills for working parents through a subsidy scheme.
He has also focussed on special needs education with his ‘SEN Reform Agenda’ and five-year delivery plan this month.
However, he provoked criticism when he met the Loyalist Communities Council, an umbrella group representing the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando.
Just this month he came under pressure for rejecting plans by Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Rathmore PS in Bangor to become integrated.
Mr Givan has been proactive in his role but needs to go further and deliver on his promises.
With a limited amount of time and money, he should focus and commit to make specific improvements.
Department of Justice - Naomi Long - 6/10 - Connla Young, Security and Crime Correspondent
As with the majority of Stormont departments, justice chiefs have accomplished little of note in the past year.
The dysfunction that pollutes politics on the hill will inevitably have impacted the Department of Justice over recent years.
Indeed, the agreed ‘coronation’ of a justice minister in every assembly mandate is itself a symptom of the failure of local politics.
Current incumbent Naomi Long is the latest in a line of non-nationalists to hold the ministerial role.
Although generally considered able, the ambitions of the Alliance leader have no doubt been impacted by the stop-start nature of politics in the north.
Standout moments for the DoJ over the past 12 months include a funding linked spat with the PSNI chief constable, and a strike by lawyers over pay.
Often department officials adopt an unhelpful approach to dealing with media enquiries.
At times they are sluggish - traits that ultimately don’t serve the minister well as she seeks to make her mark.
