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The Northern Ireland Assembly Code of Conduct is designed to help MLAs carry out their jobs in a way that is transparent and fair.

It is a set of rules that MLAs must follow. For example, it describes how an MLA must handle expenses, claims, salaries, and donations.

A breach of the code might be considered corruption and lead to serious legal problems for the offending MLA.

Northern Ireland Assembly departments

Government departments are the tools that allow the government to get things done. When a decision is made in the Assembly, it is enacted by the people in the relevant department.

There are currently nine government departments within the Northern Ireland Assembly:

• The Executive Office (also known as the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister)
  • supports ministers and institutions of government;
  • manages a programme of government;
  • promotes better community relations, equality, diversity, social inclusion and rights;
  • targets social need.
• Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
  • responsible for food, farming, and environmental policy;
  • the development of the rural sector in Northern Ireland.
• Communities
  • responsible for housing, urban regeneration and pensions;
  • supports sport, arts, and culture;
  • maintains museums, libraries, the public record office, and the historic environment;
  • maintains Northern Ireland's languages.
• Economy
  • coordinates economic development, encompassing areas such as enterprise, social economy, innovation, energy, telecommunications and tourism.
• Finance
  • organises Northern Ireland's budget and departments' spending.
• Education
  • responsible for education to post-primary level;
  • improves standards and quality of education;
  • promotes community relations between schools;
  • supports teacher training;
  • promotes learning and skills to prepare people for work.
• Health
  • responsible for managing health and social care, and public health and safety;
  • write policy and legislation relating to health.
• Infrastructure
  • responsible for planning and development;
  • maintains transport links and roads;
  • addresses problems of housing, urban regeneration and social need;
  • protects the natural environment.
• Justice
  • provides a fair justice system;
  • responsible for people's safety;
  • coordinates the work of fivejudicial agencies: prison service, courts and tribunals, compensation, forensic science and youth justice.