The 22 months delay in the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive resulted from a boycott of the process by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

[3] In December 2021, a judge ruled that DUP ministers boycotting the North/South Ministerial Council to protest the Northern Ireland Protocol were an "abject breach of their solemn pledge".

"[14] Both the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Irish Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had urged the DUP to agree to the formation of a Government.

Heaton-Harris held another round of talks with the political parties on 1 November, amid speculation that the UK government could introduce legislation to delay the need for a new election.

[23] On 9 November, he said that he would be introducing legislation to (retrospectively) extend the deadline to form a new Assembly Executive to 8 December 2022, with the option for an additional 6-week extension.

[27] In November 2022, British prime minister Rishi Sunak and Tánaiste Micheál Martin met in Blackpool at the British-Irish Council summit.

Heaton-Harris invited the parties to new talks on 11 January 2023 to discuss the situation,[30] but Sinn Féin pulled out in protest at the exclusion of its president, Mary Lou McDonald, after which the SDLP refused to take part as well.

[35][36] This was achieved through the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Organ and Tissue Donation) Act 2023,[37] which completed its passage through the Westminster Parliament in late February 2023.

[43] Heaton-Harris said that he would, again, bring primary legislation to further extend the deadline to 8 February 2024, via the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill 2024.

[48] In 25 January, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2024 (c. 2) was introduced to extend the period necessary for restoration of government without calling a snap election.

[49] On 29 January 2024, an urgent meeting of the Democratic Unionist Party executive was called following the passing over the deadline to restore power sharing at Stormont.

[58] A DUP agreement with the Sunak ministry will reportedly reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

[59] This involves the creation of a "UK internal market" in order to ease unionist fears over de facto border in the Irish Sea.

[67] Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill was nominated as First Minister, becoming the first nationalist politician to hold the post, while the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly was appointed deputy.