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1 A reference to— a an unspecified Minister of Northern Ireland; or b the head of a Northern Ireland department, shall be construed as a reference to a Northern Ireland Minister. 2 A reference to the head of a specified Northern Ireland department shall, in relation to a function, be construed as a reference to the Northern Ireland Minister in charge of the department which exercises that function. 3 In sub-paragraph (1) “ Northern Ireland Minister ” includes the First Minister and the deputy First Minister. 4 This paragraph applies to enactments and instruments passed or made before the appointed day.