THE Department of Finance has pledged to publish the names of the executive's newly-appointed special advisers, alongside a new code of conduct for the Stormont aides.
It is understood the process of selecting new spads is ongoing and while ministers are being shadowed and advised by individuals who may ultimately be employed on a permanent basis, not all those currently fulfilling the role will necessarily be appointed.
There is expected to be an additional focus on the appointments in the wake of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal, in which spads are played a key role.
The New Decade New Approach agreement says that alongside ministers and civil servants, spads "have a part to play in rebuilding the trust of citizens".
The deal includes a pledge to strengthen both the code governing spads' conduct and ministers’ responsibility for their advisers.
DoF said ministers' spads were in the process of being appointed.
"A new code of conduct for special advisers will be published soon as well as the names of those appointed," a department spokesperson said.
Earlier this week, TUV leader Jim Allister unveiled a private members bill that would create a specific criminal offence for a minister or special adviser to communicate confidential government information to a third party.
The bill would reduce the number of special advisers within the Executive Office from eight to four and impose a cap on their pay.
It would also make plain that the appointing minister is "accountable and responsible" for their actions.
Arlene Foster's former spad Andrew Crawford was forced to resign in 2017, weeks after The Irish News revealed that his brother was a poultry farmer and RHI scheme claimant.
He had been accused of using his influence to delay cost controls on the generous scheme, claims he denies.
The DUP leader later told the RHI inquiry she was she told the inquiry she was "accountable but not responsible" for Mr Crawford's actions.
Also in 2017, Ex-DUP minister Simon Hamilton and his former spad John Robinson, now the party's head of communications, conspired to leak government documents to the media in an effort to take the heat of their colleagues.
The leak continues to be the subject of a criminal investigation by the Information Commissioners Office
