Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy today stressed his commitment to continuing the reforms started by the power-sharing administration at Stormont.
As the British government continued to make frantic efforts to have devolution restored to the North, Mr Murphy pledged to carry on the work started by the Executive.
Mr Murphy and his team were forced to take over the reins last October after the Stormont Assembly was suspended amid allegations that an IRA spy ring was operating at the heart of Government.
Speaking at Corrymeela in Co Antrim, where he launched a document outlining priorities for the coming months, Mr Murphy said he believed the North was best governed by locally elected politicians.
"That is what the people of Northern Ireland want and deserve and this is why we remain committed to working towards building the trust and confidence necessary to restore all the institutions of the Agreement," he said.
"In the interim, however, my ministerial colleagues and I have a duty to provide good governance, building on the progress made by the Executive."
A month before its suspension, the Executive published its draft Programme for Government outlining its plans for reform of public services and infrastructure.
Mr Murphy recognised that the central plank of the programme was reinvestment and reform and he would continue to make this a priority.
For that reason, he added, the British government has formed the Strategic Investment Board and launched a major investment programme aimed at helping to carry forward reforms.
"Over a period of a few years this aims to provide investment of around #2 billion to radically improve Northern Ireland's health, education, infrastructure and water and sewerage treatment services," he added.
PA