1. How did the D’Hondt system choose Ministers in 2016?
Junior Ministers
DUP SF
UUP
SDLP 38 28 16 12
The Social Democratic and
Labour Party declined to nominate
a member to the Executive.
The Ulster Unionist Party declined to nominate a member to the Executive.
38/2 19 28 16 12 19
28/2 14 16 12
Click 1 will bring up the parties and the first row of scores.
If we look at the top row and divide it by 1 it will stay the same of course, and so the largest party will nominate.
Who is that? The UUP, with 28.
Click 2 – brings up picture of R. Empey and the white arrow for the next row.
They nominate first and Sir Reg Empey takes the position of Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Investment
Click 3 brings in the sum for the UUP division 28/2=14
We then divide again, but this time the UUP figure must be divided by 1 plus the seat they have taken =2 which gives them 14.
Click 4 brings in the new totals
Therefore when we look at the figures this time we can see that the largest party now is?
Click 5 Brings in Mark Durkan
The SDLP, they then nominated Mark Durkan as Minister for Finance and Personnel. He has since moved of course and this is now Sean Farren, so the ministerial seat stays within the party and ensures the balance is maintained.
When we do the next sum what will happen?
UUP have 14, SDLP will be divided by 2 giving them 12, so the biggest party now will be?
The DUP with 20, who then nominated Peter Robinson as Minister for Regional Development, and so on.
38/3
12.7 14 16 12
12.7 14 12
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir MLA
Minister for Finance
Simon Hamilton MLA
Minister for the Economy
Michelle McIlveen MLA
Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Chris Hazzard MLA
Minister of Infrastructure
Claire Sugden MLA
Minister for Justice
Elected via parallel consent
Peter Weir MLA
Minister for Education
Michelle O’Neill MLA
Minister for Health
12.7
28/3
9.3 12
Alastair Ross MLA
DUP
Paul Givan MLA
Minister for Communities
Megan Fearon MLA
Sinn Féin
38/4
9.5
9.3 12
9.5
9.3
38/5
7.6
9.3