Northern Ireland marks the 28th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement on Friday. The agreement was signed on 10 April 1998. Devolved government operates from the Stormont estate outside Belfast.

Devolved institutions reinstated power-sharing in February 2024. Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party lead the coalition with the Alliance Party and Ulster Unionist Party. Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin serves as first minister. Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP serves as deputy first minister.

O’Neill said the public expects ministers to cooperate and deliver results. Little-Pengelly said parties must recognise each other's concerns and pursue joint solutions.

Claire Hanna, SDLP leader and MP, said no one holds real control or sets a medium-term strategy. Andrew Muir, Alliance environment minister, said the agreement achieved historic results but the institutions now struggle to deliver benefits. Muir said the framework allows parties to block agreed policies, including an independent environmental protection agency.

The health service reports long waiting times for emergency care. Roads deteriorate and water infrastructure nears failure, which limits housing development. Lough Neagh supplies 40% of drinking water and contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The assembly passed 12 bills since restoration, mostly routine measures. Assembly members approved a salary increase from £53,000 to £67,200 this month. A January poll found one in four residents believe devolved government improved their lives.

Jon Burrows, Ulster Unionist Party leader, said his party helped deliver peace through the agreement and called for improved governance to create prosperity. The SDLP proposes joint first minister titles, changes to assembly speaker voting rules, and removal of the single-party veto on executive formation.