by a vote in Parliament. The Sunningdale Agreement in 1973 resulted in a brief, power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive, which was ended by the Ulster Workers' Council strike on 28 May 1974. The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention (1975–1976) and Northern Ireland Assembly (1982–1986) were unsuccessful in restoring devolved government. After the Anglo-Irish Agreement on 15 November 1985, the UK Government and Irish Government co-operated more closely on security and political matters. Following the Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement) on 10 April 1998, devolution returned to Northern Ireland on 2 December 1999. The Northern Ireland Executive was suspended on 15 October 2002 and direct rule returned until devolution was restored on 8 May 2007. The devolution of policing and justice powers on 12 April 2010 transferred many of the NIO's previous responsibilities to the Northern Ireland Assembly and its devolved government, the Northern Ireland Executive. The Department of Justice is now responsible for those matters. This transfer of power resulted in a smaller Northern Ireland Office, comparable to the Scotland Office and Wales Office. Current ministers The NIO ministers are as follows: As Attorney General for England and Wales, The Rt Hon. Michael Ellis QC MP is Advocate General for Northern Ireland, advising the UK Government on Northern Ireland law. Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland The department is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Ministers of State for Northern Ireland Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland Permanent Secretary The senior civil servant in the NIO is Madeleine Alessandri, who replaced Sir Jonathan Stephens in February 2020. She was formerly the Prime Minister's Adviser on National Resilience and Security. See also Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Northern Ireland Assembly Northern Ireland Executive Department of Justice References External links Northern Ireland Office 1972 establishments in the United Kingdom Government agencies established in 1972 Ministerial departments of the Government of the United Kingdom Government of Northern Ireland