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<p>In the absence of Northern Ireland Executive ministers, the Northern Ireland (Executive
Formation etc.) Act will provide Northern Ireland civil servants with the clarity
they require to take the limited but necessary decisions to maintain delivery of public
services and operate in the public interest. The Act does not give the Secretary of
State for Northern Ireland direction powers on specific policies, other than in relation
to pressing public appointments and the requirement to set the regional rate.</p><p>The
accompanying guidance to this legislation, published in draft on 29 November 2022,
will help NI civil servants take into account whether taking a decision is in the
public interest and recognises that there will be some decisions that should rightly
wait for a Minister to be in place.</p><p> </p>
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