Former Justice Minister Claire Sugden has warned against allowing the Northern Ireland Executive’s Justice Minister to be elected in the same manner as other ministerial offices.

Ms Sugden said the “time hasn’t quite come” for parties like the DUP or Sinn Féin to take control of the Department of Justice.

Under the Department of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2010, the Justice Minister is elected by cross-community vote, unlike other departments which are assigned by the D’Hondt system.

The post has only ever been held by Alliance MLA David Ford, who designates as Other in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and Independent MLA Ms Sugden, who designates as Unionist.

Reports have suggested the special cross-community provisions for appointing the Justice Minister would have been dropped under a draft deal to restore power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin.

Speaking to the Inside Politics programme on BBC Radio Ulster, Ms Sugden said politicians had to “get over big issues like legacy” first.

She continued: “I think we need to be mature in how we deal with those issues before it can go into the normal d’Hondt arrangements.”