11(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.