Norman Houston Death: Accolades have been paid to Norman Houston, one of Northern Ireland’s most senior government workers who assumed a critical job in speaking to Northern Ireland in Washington.

Mr Houston kicked the bucket on Tuesday in Belfast. He was 62.

In an assertion, the Northern Ireland Office said Mr Houston, who was granted an OBE for his work in 2019, would be recognized as a “genuine representative who served Northern Ireland with unique excellence.”

Norman Houston was granted an OBE in 2019. Photo: Northern Ireland Bureau

“For more than 15 years, Norman made sure that Northern Ireland was at the focal point of political and financial conversations in progressive US organizations, bringing genuinely necessary venture and opening numerous entryways for our government officials and more extensive business pioneers.”

Delegates from across the political separation in Northern Ireland honored Mr Houston, who resigned as top of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington in late 2019.

First Minister Arlene Foster said she was “stunned and profoundly disheartened” to hear the information on his passing.

“Norman was a quintessential expert and a genuine minister for Northern Ireland. All through his time as Director of the Washington Bureau he made a gigantic commitment to advancing Northern Ireland on a worldwide stage,” she said.

Appointee First Minister Michelle O’Neill said that Mr Houston’s commitment to “building up our relationship with the United States is limitless.”

“He was a great negotiator who worked really hard of driving our Washington Bureau for over 10 years. He had a life-changing presence and his name was known all over all through the city and past.”

Ireland’s minister to the United States, Dan Mulhall, said he was “profoundly disheartened” by his passing.