Section 1 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2022 (c. 48) (“the 2022 Act”) extended the time under section 16A of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) for Northern Ireland Ministers to be appointed, following the Assembly elections that took place on 5th May 2022, until 8th December 2022. Section 2(1) of the 2022 Act allows the Secretary of State, by regulations, to extend that period for a further six-week period up to and including 19th January 2023.