Any reference to a Minister of Northern Ireland identified by a title corresponding to that of a Ministry of Northern Ireland shall, as respects functions to be discharged by him, be construed as a reference to the head of the Northern Ireland department bearing the name of that Ministry immediately before the appointed day.

Any reference to an unspecified Minister or to unspecified Ministers of Northern Ireland shall, as respects the discharge of functions, be construed as a reference to the head of a Northern Ireland department or the heads of Northern Ireland departments.