7th Northern Ireland Assembly
7th Northern Ireland Assembly | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
Overview | |||
Legislative body | Assembly | ||
Jurisdiction | Northern Ireland | ||
Meeting place | Parliament Buildings, Stormont | ||
Term | 5 May 2022 – present | ||
Election | 2022 Assembly election | ||
Government | Executive of the 7th Assembly | ||
Members | 90 | ||
Speaker | Edwin Poots | ||
First Minister | Michelle O'Neill | ||
Deputy First Minister | Emma Little-Pengelly |
This is a list of the 90 members of the seventh Northern Ireland Assembly, the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. The election took place on 5 May 2022, with counting continuing the following 2 days; voter turnout was estimated at 64.4%.
Five MLAs were elected from each of the 18 constituencies. Sinn Féin became the biggest party for the first time, entitling them to the First Minister. Additionally, Alliance, the biggest cross-community party, also had a big increase, overtaking the SDLP and UUP in votes to become third in the assembly, following the DUP, the biggest Unionist party.
The DUP blocked the formation of an Executive until a meeting of the Assembly on 3 February 2024.[1]
Party strengths
Party | Designation | Elected | Current | |
---|---|---|---|---|
● | Sinn Féin | Nationalist | 27 | 27 |
● | Democratic Unionist Party | Unionist | 25 | 26 |
● | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | Other | 17 | 17 |
● | Ulster Unionist Party | Unionist | 9 | 9 |
♦ | Social Democratic and Labour Party | Nationalist | 8 | 8 |
Independent Unionist | Unionist | 2 | 1 | |
Traditional Unionist Voice | Unionist | 1 | 1 | |
People Before Profit | Other | 1 | 1 | |
Independent Nationalist | Nationalist | 0 | 0 | |
Speaker[n 1] | None | 0 | 1 | |
Totals by Designation | Unionist | 37 | 36 | |
Nationalist | 35 | 35 | ||
Other | 18 | 18 | ||
None | 0 | 1 | ||
Total | 90 | |||
● = Northern Ireland Executive; ♦ = Official Opposition |
Graphical representation
- Party Composition following the 2022 Election
- Designations of the Assembly after the 2022 Election. Unionists in Orange, Nationalists in Green and "Others" in Yellow
Parties arranged roughly on the nationalist-unionist spectrum
MLAs by current affiliation
Party | Name | Constituency | Member since | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sinn Féin (27) | Caoimhe Archibald | East Londonderry | 5 May 2016 | |
Danny Baker | Belfast West | 5 May 2022 | ||
Nicola Brogan | West Tyrone | 31 October 2020 | ||
Cathal Boylan | Newry and Armagh | 7 March 2007 | ||
Pádraig Delargy | Foyle | 13 September 2021 | ||
Linda Dillon | Mid Ulster | 5 May 2016 | ||
Jemma Dolan | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 2 March 2017 | ||
Sinéad Ennis | South Down | 2 March 2017 | ||
Ciara Ferguson | Foyle | 13 September 2021 | ||
Órlaithí Flynn | Belfast West | 7 December 2016 | ||
Colm Gildernew | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 20 June 2017 | ||
Deirdre Hargey | Belfast South | 9 January 2020 | ||
Declan Kearney | South Antrim | 5 May 2016 | ||
Gerry Kelly | Belfast North | 25 June 1998 | ||
Liz Kimmins | Newry and Armagh | 9 January 2020 | ||
Cathy Mason | South Down | 5 May 2022 | ||
Declan McAleer | West Tyrone | 2 July 2012 | ||
Philip McGuigan | North Antrim | 30 August 2016 | ||
Maolíosa McHugh | West Tyrone | 29 May 2019 | ||
Aine Murphy | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 2 July 2021 | ||
Conor Murphy | Newry and Armagh | 9 June 2015 | ||
Carál Ní Chuilín ° | Belfast North | 7 March 2007 | ||
John O'Dowd | Upper Bann | 26 November 2003 | ||
Michelle O'Neill* | Mid Ulster | 7 March 2007 | ||
Aisling Reilly | Belfast West | 19 October 2021 | ||
Pat Sheehan | Belfast West | 7 December 2010 | ||
Emma Sheerin | Mid Ulster | 4 December 2018 | ||
Democratic Unionist Party (25) | David Brooks | Belfast East | 5 May 2022 | |
Maurice Bradley | East Londonderry | 5 May 2016 | ||
Phillip Brett | Belfast North | 5 May 2022 | ||
Cheryl Brownlee † | East Antrim | 15 September 2023 | ||
Tom Buchanan | West Tyrone | 26 November 2003 | ||
Keith Buchanan | Mid Ulster | 5 May 2016 | ||
Jonathan Buckley | Upper Bann | 2 March 2017 | ||
Joanne Bunting | Belfast East | 5 May 2016 | ||
Pam Cameron | South Antrim | 5 May 2011 | ||
Trevor Clarke | South Antrim | 28 June 2017 | ||
Diane Dodds | Upper Bann | 11 January 2020 | ||
Stephen Dunne | North Down | 1 June 2021 | ||
Deborah Erskine | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 11 October 2021 | ||
Diane Forsythe | South Down | 5 May 2022 | ||
Paul Frew | North Antrim | 21 June 2010 | ||
Paul Givan | Lagan Valley | 10 June 2010 | ||
Harry Harvey | Strangford | 12 September 2019 | ||
William Irwin | Newry and Armagh | 7 March 2007 | ||
Brian Kingston | Belfast North | 5 May 2022 | ||
Emma Little-Pengelly † | Lagan Valley | 12 May 2022 | ||
Gordon Lyons | East Antrim | 11 August 2015 | ||
Peter Martin † | North Down | 10 July 2024 | ||
Michelle McIlveen | Strangford | 7 March 2007 | ||
Gary Middleton | Foyle | 13 April 2015 | ||
Alan Robinson | East Londonderry | 5 May 2022 | ||
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (17) | Kellie Armstrong | Strangford | 5 May 2016 | |
John Blair ° | South Antrim | 27 June 2018 | ||
Paula Bradshaw | Belfast South | 5 May 2016 | ||
Stewart Dickson | East Antrim | 5 May 2011 | ||
Danny Donnelly | East Antrim | 5 May 2022 | ||
Connie Egan | North Down | 5 May 2022 | ||
Michelle Guy † | Lagan Valley | 10 July 2024 | ||
David Honeyford | Lagan Valley | 5 May 2022 | ||
Naomi Long* | Belfast East | 9 January 2020 | ||
Nick Mathison | Strangford | 5 May 2022 | ||
Nuala McAllister | Belfast North | 5 May 2022 | ||
Andrew McMurray † | South Down | 29 April 2024 | ||
Peter McReynolds | Belfast East | 5 May 2022 | ||
Andrew Muir | North Down | 18 December 2019 | ||
Sian Mulholland † | North Antrim | 4 April 2023 | ||
Kate Nicholl | Belfast South | 5 May 2022 | ||
Eóin Tennyson | Upper Bann | 5 May 2022 | ||
Ulster Unionist Party (9) | Steve Aiken ° | South Antrim | 5 May 2016 | |
Andy Allen | Belfast East | 15 September 2015 | ||
Doug Beattie* | Upper Bann | 5 May 2016 | ||
Robbie Butler | Lagan Valley | 5 May 2016 | ||
Alan Chambers | North Down | 5 May 2016 | ||
Colin Crawford † | North Antrim | 10 July 2024 | ||
Tom Elliott | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 5 May 2022 | ||
Mike Nesbitt | Strangford | 5 May 2011 | ||
John Stewart | East Antrim | 2 March 2017 | ||
Social Democratic and Labour Party (8) | Mark Durkan | Foyle | 5 May 2011 | |
Cara Hunter | East Londonderry | 18 May 2020 | ||
Daniel McCrossan | West Tyrone | 7 January 2016 | ||
Colin McGrath | South Down | 5 May 2016 | ||
Patsy McGlone | Mid Ulster | 26 November 2003 | ||
Sinéad McLaughlin | Foyle | 11 January 2020 | ||
Justin McNulty ‡‡ | Newry and Armagh | 5 May 2016 | ||
Matthew O'Toole* | Belfast South | 11 January 2020 | ||
Traditional Unionist Voice | Timothy Gaston † | North Antrim | 16 July 2024 | |
People Before Profit | Gerry Carroll | Belfast West | 7 May 2016 | |
Independent Unionist | Claire Sugden | East Londonderry | 6 May 2014 | |
Speaker | Edwin Poots ‡ | Belfast South | 25 June 1998 |
* Party Leader in Stormont
† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA
‡ Changed affiliation during the term
° Deputy Speaker
MLAs by constituency and current affiliation
Members are ranked by their order of election, and if co-opted, the position of the person who they co-opted.
* Party Leader in Stormont
† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA
‡ Changed affiliation during the term
Changes since the election
† Co-options
Date co-opted | Constituency | Party | Outgoing | Co-optee | Reason | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 May 2022 | Lagan Valley | DUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | Emma Little Pengelly | Jeffrey Donaldson remaining as the Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley.[2] | |
4 April 2023 | North Antrim | Alliance | Patricia O'Lynn | Sian Mulholland | Patricia O'Lynn resigned.[3] | |
15 September 2023 | East Antrim | DUP | David Hilditch | Cheryl Brownlee | David Hilditch resigned.[4] | |
29 April 2024 | South Down | Alliance | Patrick Brown | Andrew McMurray | Patrick Brown resigned.[5] | |
10 July 2024 | Lagan Valley | Alliance | Sorcha Eastwood | Michelle Guy | Sorcha Eastwood elected as the Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley in the 2024 general election.[6] | |
10 July 2024 | North Antrim | UUP | Robin Swann | Colin Crawford | Robin Swann elected as the Member of Parliament for South Antrim in the 2024 general election.[7] | |
10 July 2024 | North Down | Ind. Unionist | Alex Easton | Peter Martin (DUP) | Alex Easton elected as the Member of Parliament for North Down in the 2024 general election.[8] | |
16 July 2024 | North Antrim | TUV | Jim Allister | Timothy Gaston | Jim Allister elected as the Member of Parliament for North Antrim in the 2024 general election.[9] |
‡ Changes in affiliation
Date | Constituency | Name | Previous affiliation | New affiliation | Circumstance | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 February 2024 | Belfast South | Edwin Poots | DUP | Speaker | Edwin Poots elected Speaker of the Assembly at its first sitting.[10] | ||
3 February 2024 | Newry and Armagh | Justin McNulty | SDLP | Ind. Nationalist | Whip suspended after leaving Assembly session early to manage Laois GAA at a gaelic match.[11] | ||
20 August 2024 | Newry and Armagh | Justin McNulty | Ind. Nationalist | SDLP | Whip restored.[12] |
Notes
References
- ^ "Stormont: Michelle O'Neill set to become first nationalist first minister". BBC News. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - Lagan Valley Constituency".
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - North Antrim Constituency".
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - East Antrim Constituency".
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - South Down Constituency".
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - Lagan Valley constituency".
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - Lagan Valley constituency".
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - North Down constituency".
- ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - North Antrim constituency".
- ^ "Stormont: Michelle O'Neill set to become first nationalist first minister". BBC News. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Justin McNulty: SDLP suspend MLA who left Stormont for GAA game". BBC News. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Justin McNulty has SDLP whip restored". RTÉ News. 20 August 2024.
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