I have been asked by a reader in USA to give the current make up of the Norn Iron Executive and Assembly.

Elected in May 2022, there are 90 MLAs from 18 constituencies (5 MLAs in each constituency). The Assembly and Executive did not get under way until January 2024.

The 2022 results:

Sinn Féin 27 seats. DUP 25 seats. Alliance 17 seats. UUP 9 seats. SDLP 8 seats. TUV 1 seat. PBP 1 seat. Independent 2.

This means Sinn Féin are entitled to the First Minister post and DUP the Deputy First Minister post.

There are eight other Cabinet positions with SF entitled to 2 ministers, DUP 2 ministers, Alliance 2 ministers and UUP and SDLP 1 each. SDLP declined to take a post and decided to go into Opposition. SF took the post which SDLP declined.

The Executive is made up of.

First Minister…Michelle O’Neill Sinn Féin {Mid Ulster)

Deputy First Minister…Emma Little Pengelly DUP (Lagan Valley)

Justice: Naomi Long Alliance (East Belfast) …the Justice portfolio is allocated to Alliance as a perceived neutral party. Long has done a good job of keeping herself at arms length from any controversy involving policing or prisons.

Finance…Caoimhe Archibald Sinn Féin (East Derry)…Dr Archibald is a genuine star within Sinn Féin. Her job is about allocating money to the other government Departments and going to the British Treasury to get more cash.

Education…Paul Givan DUP (Lagan Valley)

Economy…Conor Murphy Sinn Féin (Armagh-Newry).

Communities…Gordon Lyons DUP (East Antrim)

Health…Mike Nesbitt UUP (Strangford). Originally allocated to Robin Swann, the position was taken up by Nesbitt when Swann was elected to the British House of Commons in July 2024. With a health service that is falling apart, this is pretty much a “poisoned chalice”.

Infrastructure…John O’Dowd Sinn Fein (Upper Bann). Another department beset by troubles…public transport, roads and water supply is a mess.

Agriculture…Andrew Muir Alliance (North Down).

It is hard to be fair in assessing the ministers. By any standards they do difficult jobs and this coalition is unlikely.

The key question is that these ten folks are charged with doing their best for the people of Norn Iron.

Making Northern Ireland work? Can it work? Should it work?

Does it matter?