Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Northern Ireland

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The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI, Irish: An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Infheistíochta^[1]) is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Aim

DETI’s overall aim is to “promote the development of a globally competitive economy.” Its stated objective is to “encourage the development of a high value added, innovative, enterprising and competitive economy, leading to greater wealth creation and job opportunities for all.” ^[2]

The incumbent Minister is Arlene Foster (Democratic Unionist Party).^[3]

Responsibilities

The department is responsible for the following policy areas:^[4]

• company registration
• consumer affairs
• economic policy development
• energy
• health and safety at work
• insolvency
• mineral development
• tourism

Some economic matters are reserved to Westminster and are therefore not devolved: ^[5]

• the foreshore, sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources
• postal services
• import and export controls, external trade
• national minimum wage
• financial services
• financial markets
• intellectual property
• units of measurement
• telecommunications and internet services
• consumer safety in relation to goods

In addition, some matters are excepted and were not intended for devolution:^[6]

• taxation
• national insurance
• currency
• nuclear energy

DETI’s main counterparts in the United Kingdom Government are:

• the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS);^[7]
• the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC);^[8]
• the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (on tourism).^[9]

In the Irish Government, its main counterparts are:

• the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation;^[10]
• the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources;^[11]
• the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport;^[12]

Agencies

DETI has four agencies, established as non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), to assist in strategy implementation:

• Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI), which supports business growth and inward investment, promotes innovation, research and development and in-company training, encourages exports and supports local economic development and company start up;
• the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), which is responsible for the development, promotion and marketing of Northern Ireland as a tourist destination;
• the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), which is responsible for health, safety and welfare at work; and
• the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (GCCNI), which is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the interests of consumers and campaigning for the best possible standards of service and protection.

History

Following a referendum on the Belfast Agreement on 23 May 1998 and the granting of Royal Assent to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on 19 November 1998, a Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive were established by the United Kingdom government under Prime Minister Tony Blair. The process was known as devolution and was set up to return devolved legislative powers to Northern Ireland. DETI is one of 11 devolved Northern Ireland departments created in December 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and The Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

A devolved minister first took office on 2 December 1999. Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the department came under the responsibility of direct rule ministers from the Northern Ireland Office:

• between 12 February 2000 ^[13] and 30 May 2000;^[14]
• on 11 August 2001;^[15][16]
• on 22 September 2001;^[17][18]
• between 15 October 2002^[19] and 8 May 2007.^[20]

Since 8 May 2007, devolution has operated without interruption.

Ministers of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

	Minister	Party	Took office	Left office
	Sir Reg Empey	Ulster Unionist	2 December 1999	11 February 2000
Office suspended
	Sir Reg Empey	Ulster Unionist	30 May 2000	14 October 2002[21]
Office suspended
	Nigel Dodds	Democratic Unionist	8 May 2007	9 June 2008
	Arlene Foster	Democratic Unionist	9 June 2008

Direct rule ministers

During the periods of suspension, the following ministers of the Northern Ireland Office were responsible for the department:

• Adam Ingram (2000)
• Ian Pearson (2002–04)
• Barry Gardiner (2004–05)
• Angela Smith (2005–06)
• Maria Eagle (2006–07)

See also

• Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

References

1. ^ "Annual Report 2003" (in Irish). North/South Ministerial Council. http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/nsmc_annual_report_-_irish_version_(pdf_3.06mb).pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-03.  (page 29)
2. ^ Northern Ireland Budget 2011-15, page 57
3. ^ http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministers-and-their-departments.htm Northern Ireland Executive
4. ^ http://www.detini.gov.uk/cgi-bin/get_builder_page?page=281&site=2 DETI
5. ^ Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 3
6. ^ Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 2
7. ^ BIS: About BIS
8. ^ DECC: About us
9. ^ DCMS: About us
10. ^ Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation: About the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation
11. ^ Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy
12. ^ Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: About Us
13. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2000
14. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000
15. ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2001
16. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2001
17. ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
18. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
19. ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002
20. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2007
21. ^ Office suspended for 24 hours on 11 August 2001 and 22 September 2001

External links

• DETI
• The Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999PDF (37.0 KB)