A Northern Ireland Parliament was established in 1922 when Ireland was divided, but it
was abolished in 1972 shortly after the Troubles broke out in 1969.

Soon after the end of the Troubles, the Northern Ireland Assembly was established with a
power-sharing agreement which distributes ministerial offices among the main parties.
The Assembly has 108 elected members known as MLAs (Members of the Legislative
Assembly). Decision-making powers devolved to Northern Ireland include education,
agriculture, the environment, health and social services in Northern Ireland.

The UK government kept the power to suspend the Northern Ireland Assembly if the
political leaders no longer agreed to work together or if the Assembly was not working in
the interests of the people of Northern Ireland. This had happened several times and the
Assembly is currently suspended (2006). This means that the elected assembly members
do not have power to pass bills or make decisions

Note: As of May 8, 2007, the Northern Ireland Assembly was restored. It is no longer suspended.

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