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The role of the Executive Secretary in Northern Ireland is one, which promotes the Institution and takes a leading role in the Public Relations of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The aim is to raise the profile of the importance of civil engineers in the political and educational agenda. We are presently building a network of key senior people in local Government, Government Departments, Contractors and Consultants to enable the Institution to influence the local Assembly Ministers on matters to do with the "built environment".
The Northern Ireland Assembly was established as part of the Good Friday Agreement reached at the multi-party negotiations on Friday 10 April 1998. The Assembly is the prime source of authority for all devolved responsibilities and has full legislative and executive authority in respect of those matters previously within the remit of 6 Northern Ireland government departments:
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Economic Development
- Department of Education
- Department of the Environment
- Department of Finance and Personnel
- Department of Health and Social Services
108 members were elected to the Assembly on 25 June 1998 by Proportional Representation from the existing 18 Westminster constituencies in Northern Ireland. The Assembly was however suspended in October 2002 and was dissolved in April 2003. Elections to the NI Assembly were again held on 26 November 2003. The Secretary of State has assumed responsibility for the direction of the NI Government Departments.
The Institution's annual State of the Nation Report Card is presented to the Assembly Ministers and local media and reports on the state of NI's infrastructure. It endeavours to comment and grade the overall condition of NI's roads, transport, water, energy and waste management. This document , as well as providing engineering solutions, challenges the Government on issues such as policies and funding.
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