Department for the Economy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Department for the Economy

Department overview
Formed	June 1921 (as Ministry of Commerce)
Preceding Department	Dublin Castle administration
Jurisdiction	Northern Ireland
Headquarters	Adelaide House, 39-49 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FD
Employees	582 (September 2011)
Annual budget	£207.1 million (current) & £68.7 million (capital) for 2011–12
Minister responsible	Vacant
Website	www.economy-ni.gov.uk

The Department for the Economy (DfE, Irish: An Roinn Geilleagair) is a government department in Northern Ireland. It is part of the Northern Ireland Executive, which is like the government of Northern Ireland. A special minister is in charge of this department.

The DfE got its current name in 2016. Before that, it was known as the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

What the Department for the Economy Does

The DfE's main goal is to help Northern Ireland have a strong economy. They want to create more wealth and job opportunities for everyone. They do this by encouraging new ideas, businesses, and fair competition.

The position of Minister for the Economy has been empty since October 2022.

Key Responsibilities

The DfE handles many important things for Northern Ireland's economy. These include:

• Registering companies
• Looking after consumer rights
• Making plans for the economy
• Dealing with energy matters
• Handling employment laws
• Ensuring health and safety at work
• Managing company bankruptcies
• Developing mineral resources
• Promoting tourism

Some economic matters are handled by the UK government in Westminster, not by the DfE. These include things like:

• The foreshore and seabed
• Postal services
• Rules for importing and exporting goods
• The national minimum wage
• Financial services and markets
• Rules about inventions and designs (intellectual property)
• Units of measurement
• Telecommunications and internet services
• Safety of consumer goods

Other matters are also handled by the UK government and were not meant to be managed by Northern Ireland. These include:

• Taxation (taxes)
• National insurance
• Currency (money)
• Nuclear energy

The DfE works with similar departments in other governments. In the United Kingdom Government, its main partners are:

• The Department for Business and Trade
• The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• The Department for Culture, Media and Sport

In the Irish Government, its main partners are:

• The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
• The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
• The Department of Transport

Helping Businesses and People

The DfE has four special agencies that help carry out its plans. These agencies are:

• Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI): This agency helps businesses grow and encourages companies to invest in Northern Ireland. It also supports new ideas, research, training, and exports.
• Tourism Northern Ireland (Tourism NI): This group is in charge of making Northern Ireland a great place for tourists to visit. They promote and market the region.
• Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI): This agency makes sure that workplaces are safe and healthy for everyone.
• General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (GCCNI): This council works to protect and promote the interests of consumers. They campaign for good service and protection for people who buy things.

History of the Department

A department for commerce was first set up in Northern Ireland in June 1921. Over the years, it changed names several times, including the Department of Commerce and the Department of Economic Development.

During times when Northern Ireland was directly ruled by the UK government (called direct rule), this department continued to operate.

In 1998, after the Belfast Agreement, a new Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive were formed. The Department of Economic Development was renamed the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI). It had a slightly smaller range of responsibilities.

A minister for the department took office in December 1999. However, the Northern Ireland government was suspended four times. During these times, UK government ministers were in charge of the department. Since May 2007, the Northern Ireland government has been working without interruption.

In 2012, there were plans to combine the Department for Employment and Learning with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. This idea was approved, but the department remained separate for a while.

The department has faced some challenges over the years. For example, in 2004, there were issues with a broadband scheme it managed. Later, in 2016, a scheme called the Renewable Heat Incentive caused problems. This scheme was managed by the department (then DETI).

Ministers for the Economy

	Minister	Image	Party	Took office	Left office
	Sir Reg Empey		UUP	29 November 1999	11 February 2000
Office suspended
	Sir Reg Empey		UUP	30 May 2000	14 October 2002
Office suspended
	Nigel Dodds		DUP	14 May 2007	9 June 2008
	Arlene Foster		DUP	9 June 2008	11 May 2015
	Jonathan Bell		DUP	11 May 2015	30 March 2016
Office renamed Minister for the Economy
	Simon Hamilton		DUP	25 May 2016	2 March 2017
Office suspended
	Diane Dodds		DUP	11 January 2020	13 June 2021
	Paul Frew		DUP	14 June 2021	6 July 2021
	Gordon Lyons		DUP	6 July 2021	27 October 2022

Ministers During Direct Rule

When the Northern Ireland government was suspended, ministers from the Northern Ireland Office took responsibility for the department. These included:

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

See also

• Committee for the Economy
• List of government ministers in Northern Ireland