Owen Paterson has been appointed as the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
The 53-year-old becomes the first Conservative Secretary of State since 1997, when Sir Patrick Mayhew held office in John Major’s administration.
Mr Paterson became MP for North Shropshire in the same year.
The Cambridge graduate was appointed Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary in July 2007.
Mr Paterson has been a frequent visitor to Northern Ireland since then and has built up a network of contacts with political parties, business organisations and community groups.
He was a prime mover in his party’s electoral link up with the Ulster Unionist Party and personally campaigned in a number of constituencies including Strangford and East Belfast.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said: "I offer my warmest congratulations to Owen Paterson on his appointment as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
"Owen’s sterling commitment to Northern Ireland has been amply demonstrated during his time as Shadow Secretary of State."
The Northern Ireland Office once had responsibility for many issues including policing and justice, health, education, culture and the arts but these areas of public life are now in the hands of the NI Executive.
Today the secretary of state still has responsibility for constitutional and national security issues and the licensing and legislation of firearms and explosives.
The role also has an involvement in the ongoing public inquiries, human rights and electoral policy.
However, the job is no longer seen as one of the big offices of state and the arrival of devolution has prompted some commentators to predict that the job could disappear in the near future.
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