Events from the year 2021 in Northern Ireland.
Incumbents
First Minister of Northern Ireland
Arlene Foster (until 14 June) Vacant (14 - 17 June) Paul Givan (from 17 June) deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland – Michelle O'Neill Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Brandon Lewis
Events
January
1 January - First freight arrives in Northern Ireland after the Irish Sea Border comes into effect under the Provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol. 5 January - Education Executive announces AQE/GL transfer tests will not go ahead, then AQE announces they will hold one exam in late February, postponed for a second time. 6 January – Education Minister Peter Weir announces that GCSE, AS Level and A Level exams scheduled for summer 2021 will be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 9 January – Lorry drivers from Northern Ireland travelling directly to France from the Irish Republic have been told they will need a recent negative COVID test in order to do so. Drivers have been using a route from Rosslare to Cherbourg to avoid UK delays caused by COVID. 10 January – All of Northern Ireland's six health trusts have forecast that the number of patients in hospital with COVID could double by the third week of January. 17 January – Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, says that hospitals are preparing for a peak in admissions from COVID during the coming week. 21 January - The lockdown restrictions for Northern Ireland are extended until 5 March. 22 January - Following the cancellation of transfer tests, it is reported that grammar schools in Northern Ireland will not use academic tests to admit pupils in 2021. 28 January - The Northern Ireland Executive agrees that most schools in Northern Ireland will not return until at least Monday 8 March.
February
1 February - Health Minister Robin Swann confirms that as of Sunday 31 January, 246,421 COVID vaccinations had been given in Northern Ireland. 2 February – GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications will be calculated by schools in 2021, it is confirmed. 8 February – People from Northern Ireland crossing the border into the Irish Republic without a reasonable excuse are being sent back by Gardai, and face a fine of €100 (£88).
March
3 March - The Loyalist Communities Council and other loyalist groups tell Prime Minister Boris Johnson that they are withdrawing support for the Good Friday Agreement in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. 8 March - Pupils in Years P1 to P3 return to school. The plan is for them to return to remote learning on 22 March, but Education Minister Peter Weir announced plans to change this to allow for them to stay in the classroom, saying the present plans do not make "enormous sense”. 12 March - The UK Government agrees to deploy 100 military medical personnel to Northern Ireland to help with the accelerated rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. 19 March - The head of the Loyalist Communities Council, David Campbell, says that the Good Friday Agreement is under threat under the current conditions of Brexit and Northern Ireland. Campbell warns that it could unleash a "political crisis" and says that the Northern Irish Protocol breaches the 1998 accord. 21 March - 2021 United Kingdom census. Figures released in 2022 show the proportion of the Northern Ireland population which is Roman Catholic (or raised Catholic) is 45.7% compared to 43.48% Protestant, the first time a Catholic majority has been recorded. 30 March - Loyalists begin rioting in parts of Derry and Belfast in response to the introduction of the Irish Sea Border and PPS decision not to prosecute Sinn Féin for attending the funeral of Bobby Storey. This is the beginning of the 2021 Northern Ireland riots.
