Vacancy
The First Minister or deputy First Minister may also appoint another Northern Ireland Executive Minister to exercise the functions of the office during a vacancy, for a continuous period up to six weeks.
Vacancies have occurred on three occasions to date:
- Sir Reg Empey for David Trimble (1 July-6 November 2001);
- Arlene Foster for Peter Robinson (11 January-3 February 2010);
- John O'Dowd for Martin McGuinness (20 September 2011 – 31 October 2011).
Read more about this topic: First Minister And Deputy First Minister
Famous quotes containing the word vacancy:
“Old politicians, like old actors, revive in the limelight. The vacancy which afflicts them in private momentarily lifts when, once more, they feel the eyes of an audience upon them. Their old passion for holding the centre of the stage guides their uncertain footsteps to where the footlights shine, and summons up a wintry smile when the curtain rises.”
—Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990)
“It is cruelty to children to keep five-year-olds sitting still, gazing into vacancy even for one hour at a time. We have little idea of the torture we thus inflict.”
—Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards (1842–1911)
“The noisy vacancy of youth, the quiet vacancy of age.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)