Northern Ireland Office
The role of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is to maintain and support the devolution settlement flowing from the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements and to enable the devolution of justice and policing to occur as soon as the Northern Ireland Assembly requests it.
Following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May the department retains responsibility for a range of reserved and excepted policy matters, including electoral law, human rights and certain aspects of equality; and also for justice and policing, pending the devolution of these areas as well.
Contact information
- Address:
- Belfast: Block B, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3SG
- London: 11 Millbank, London SW1P 4PN
- Website: www.nio.gov.uk [External website]
- Telephone: 02890 520700
- Generic Email Format: firstname.surname@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk
Parliamentary Branch
Ministerial and Treat Officially Correspondence Unit
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Ministers
Shaun Woodward
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: The Rt Hon Shaun Woodward MP
Leads on:
- The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for all aspects of the Department's work.
- Relationships with the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, on the Department's overall strategy, and on the devolution of policing and justice, the Government's approach to the past, constitutional issues and budgetary priorities.
Private Office to Shaun Woodward
Paul Goggins
Minister of State: Paul Goggins MP
Leads on:
- Operational issues associated with security, policing and criminal justice, including prisons.
- He also supports the Secretary of State across the range of the Department's responsibilities in the House of Commons.
Private Office to Paul Goggins
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Private Offices
Private Office to Shaun Woodward
- Telephone: 020 7210 6461 (London) 028 9052 2039 (Belfast)
- Fax: 020 7210 0246 (London) 028 9052 2655 (Belfast)
- Email: sos@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk
Private Office to Paul Goggins
- Telephone: 0207 210 6498 (London) 02890 522250 (Belfast)
- Fax: 0207 210 6449 (London) 02890 522655 (Belfast)
- Email: jmpo2@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk
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Executive Agencies
Compensation Agency
The Compensation Agency administers the criminal injuries and criminal damage compensation scheme in Northern Ireland and pays compensation under the Terrorism Act 2000 legislation.
Forensic Science Agency Northern Ireland
The Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland provides scientific advice and support to the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Justice System.
Northern Ireland Prison Service
The Northern Ireland Prison Service provides prison services in Northern Ireland.
Youth Justice Agency
The principal aim of the Youth Justice System is to protect the public by preventing offending by children. The Agency will contribute to the delivery of this aim through the provision of community based services, youth conferencing and secure custody.
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