As the BBC point out, the new members of the crew at the NIO have been given their orders by [still captain of two ships – Ed] the Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, Peter Hain. – “At this crucial stage in the political process, I have decided that David Hanson will retain his Political Development portfolio and continue to work for an early return to devolved Government. Both Paul Goggins and Maria Eagle will have, amongst their portfolios, responsibility for driving forward the radical health and education agenda which the people of Northern Ireland deserve. I have asked Jeff Rooker to take personal charge of the whole programme of radical reform following the Review of Public Administration, from local government rates to the introduction of water charges.” Update 24 hours later Peter Hain has a little shuffle of his ownFrom the NIO statement –
The full NIO Ministerial portfolios are
David Hanson MP – Political Development, Criminal Justice, Department for Social Development (DSD), Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) and Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP). The Minister will have special responsibility for victims.
Lord Rooker – Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Department for Regional Development (DRD), Department of the Environment (DoE), Children’s Minister, Review of Public Administration (RPA) and Northern Ireland Business in the House of Lords.
Maria Eagle MP – Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), Department of Education (DE), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL)
Paul Goggins MP – Security, Policing, Prisons and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS)
Update Ignore that list, it’s all change at the NIO