The Northern Ireland Partnership Panel is a statutory instrument which was established under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014. The Partnership Panel provides a formal mechanism for political and strategic liaison between Executive Ministers and local government elected members on policy matters of mutual interest and concern.
The Partnership Panel consists of:
The Chair is held by the Minister for the Department for Communities. Joint Secretariat for the Northern Ireland Partnership Panel is provided by The Department for Communities and NILGA.
Meeting Outcomes / Records of the proceedings from Northern Ireland Partnership Panel Meetings will be published on NILGA and DfC websites and distributed to each Corporate Council.
As outlined in its Terms of Reference; the Partnership Panel will:
Partnership Panel Local Government Membership
As of 5th August 2020:
Council |
Member |
Party |
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council |
Ald Mark Cosgrove |
UUP |
Ards and North Down Borough Council |
Cllr Robert Adair |
DUP |
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
Cllr Lavelle McIlwrath |
DUP |
Belfast City Council |
Cllr Geraldine McAteer |
SF |
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council |
Ald Tom McKeown |
UUP |
Derry City and Strabane District Council |
Cllr Sandra Duffy |
SF |
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council |
Cllr Tommy Maguire |
SF |
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
Cllr Jenny Palmer |
UUP |
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council |
Ald Billy Ashe MBE |
DUP |
Mid Ulster District Council |
Cllr Kerri Hughes |
SDLP |
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council |
Cllr Robert Burgess |
UUP |
NILGA Office Bearers:
Cllr Matt Garrett (NILGA President) |
SF |
Cllr Frances Burton |
DUP |
Ald Alan McDowell |
Alliance |
Cllr Martin Kearney |
SDLP |
Cllr Robert Burgess |
UUP |
As set out in the Terms of Reference for the Partnership Panel, Local Government Membership is supported by two Council Chief Executives and the NILGA Chief Executive.
Partnership Panel Central Government Membership.
All Executive Ministers are members of the Partnership Panel and will be invited to attend meetings for substantive agenda items relating to their portfolio responsibility.
As of 5th August 2020, Ministerial Members of the Partnership Panel are:
Minister for Communities (Chair) |
Minister Hargey MLA |
Minister of Infrastructure |
Nichola Mallon MLA |
Minister of Justice |
Naomi Long MLA |
Minister for the Economy |
Diane Dodds MLA |
Minister of Finance |
Conor Murphy MLA |
Minister for Education |
Peter Weir MLA |
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs |
Edwin Poots MLA |
Minister of Health |
Robin Swann MLA |
Executive Office |