Restored Northern Ireland's devolved government after a three-year collapse caused by the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.
Key Facts
- Agreement date
- 9 January 2020
- Executive hiatus duration
- Three years
- First Minister
- Arlene Foster (DUP)
- Deputy First Minister
- Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin)
- Executive re-formed
- 11 January 2020
- Parties in government
- Five (DUP, SF, UUP, SDLP, Alliance)
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January 2017 following the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, which implicated the DUP and led Sinn Féin to withdraw from the power-sharing arrangement. Three years of failed negotiations left Northern Ireland without a functioning devolved government.
On 9 January 2020, UK Secretary of State Julian Smith and Irish Tánaiste Simon Coveney brokered the New Decade, New Approach agreement, setting out terms for restoring the Executive. The deal included commitments on Irish language legislation, healthcare, and other policy areas sought by nationalist parties.
The Executive was restored on 11 January 2020, with Arlene Foster as First Minister and Michelle O'Neill as deputy first minister. All five main parties joined the government, and Naomi Long of the Alliance Party became justice minister. Irish language measures were to be enacted through amendments to existing laws rather than a standalone Act.
Political Outcome
Northern Ireland Executive restored; power-sharing government re-formed with all five main parties
No functioning Executive; direct rule threatened after three-year hiatus
Power-sharing Executive restored with DUP First Minister and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister