6th Northern Ireland Assembly
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Overview
Legislative bodyAssembly
JurisdictionNorthern Ireland
Meeting placeParliament Buildings,
Stormont
Term2 March 2017 – 27 March 2022
Election2017 assembly election
GovernmentExecutive of the 6th Assembly
Members90
SpeakerAlex Maskey
First MinisterArlene Foster / Paul Givan
Deputy First MinisterMichelle O'Neill
Sessions
1st13 March 2017 – 13 March 2017
2nd21 October 2019 – 18 August 2020
3rd7 September 2020 – 16 March 2021
4th9 September 2021 – 24 March 2022

This is a list of the 90 members of the sixth Northern Ireland Assembly, the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. The election took place on 2 March 2017, with counting finishing the following day; voter turnout was estimated at 64.8%.[1]

Only five (rather than six) MLAs were elected from each of the 18 constituencies, following the Assembly Members (Reduction of Numbers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.[2] The reduction negatively affected Unionist candidates whose bloc lost its majority for the first time in the history of the Assembly. The SDLP was also negatively impacted, losing its only West Belfast seat.[3]

Incumbent Speaker Robin Newton informally convened the Assembly on 22 March to pay tribute to the former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who had died the day before.[4]

However, with the DUP and Sinn Féin unable to agree to form their mandatory coalition government, the Assembly did not formally convene. On 27 April, talks were paused until after a snap general election on 8 June, with a deadline of 29 June 2017 for the parties to reach agreement,[5] but this deadline was repeatedly extended over the next three years. The DUP, Sinn Féin and other parties finally agreed terms on 10 January 2020.[6]

Party strengths

Party Designation Mar 2017
election 		Mar 2022
end
● Democratic Unionist Party Unionist 28 26
● Sinn Féin Nationalist 27 26
● Social Democratic and Labour Party Nationalist 12 12
● Ulster Unionist Party Unionist 10 10
● Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Other 8 7
Green Party Northern Ireland Other 2 2
Traditional Unionist Voice Unionist 1 1
People Before Profit Other 1 1
Independent Other 0 1
Independent Unionist Unionist 1 3
Speaker[n 1] None 0 1
Totals by Designation Unionist 40 40
Nationalist 39 38
Other 11 11
None 0 1
Total 90 90
● = Northern Ireland Executive

Graphical representation


Parties arranged roughly on the nationalist-unionist spectrum

MLAs by party

Party Name Constituency Member since
Democratic Unionist Party (26) Maurice Bradley East Londonderry 5 May 2016
Paula Bradley Belfast North 5 May 2011
Keith Buchanan Mid Ulster 5 May 2016
Thomas Buchanan West Tyrone 26 November 2003
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 9 January 2020
Stephen Dunne † North Down 28 June 2021
Deborah Erskine † Fermanagh and South Tyrone 11 October 2021
Paul Frew North Antrim 21 June 2010
Paul Givan Lagan Valley 10 June 2010
Harry Harvey † Strangford 12 September 2019
David Hilditch East Antrim 25 June 1998
William Humphrey Belfast North 13 September 2010
William Irwin Newry and Armagh 7 March 2007
Gordon Lyons East Antrim 19 August 2015
Michelle McIlveen Strangford 7 March 2007
Gary Middleton Foyle 13 April 2015
Robin Newton Belfast East 26 November 2003
Edwin Poots † Belfast South 25 June 1998
Paul Rankin † Lagan Valley 14 March 2022
George Robinson East Londonderry 26 November 2003
Mervyn Storey North Antrim 26 November 2003
Peter Weir Strangford 25 June 1998
Sinn Féin (26) Caoimhe Archibald East Londonderry 5 May 2016
Cathal Boylan Newry and Armagh 7 March 2007
Nicola Brogan †† West Tyrone 6 November 2020
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
Declan McAleer West Tyrone 5 May 2011
Philip McGuigan North Antrim 30 August 2016
Maolíosa McHugh † West Tyrone 28 May 2019
Aine Murphy † Fermanagh and South Tyrone 2 July 2021
Aisling Reilly † Belfast West 14 October 2021
Emma Rogan † South Down 20 June 2017
Emma Sheerin † Mid Ulster 4 December 2018
Conor Murphy Newry and Armagh 8 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
Pat Sheehan Belfast West 7 December 2010
Social Democratic and Labour Party (12) Sinéad Bradley South Down 5 May 2016
Pat Catney Lagan Valley 2 March 2017
Mark H. Durkan Foyle 5 May 2011
Cara Hunter † East Londonderry 18 May 2020
Dolores Kelly Upper Bann 2 March 2017
Nichola Mallon Belfast North 5 May 2016
Daniel McCrossan West Tyrone 7 January 2016
Patsy McGlone Mid Ulster 26 November 2003
Colin McGrath South Down 5 May 2016
Sinead McLaughlin † Foyle 10 January 2020
Justin McNulty Newry and Armagh 5 May 2016
Matthew O'Toole † Belfast South 11 January 2020
Ulster Unionist Party (10) Steve Aiken South Antrim 5 May 2016
Andy Allen Belfast East 15 September 2015
Rosemary Barton Fermanagh and South Tyrone 5 May 2016
Doug Beattie Upper Bann 5 May 2016
Roy Beggs, Jr. East Antrim 25 June 1998
Robbie Butler Lagan Valley 5 May 2016
Alan Chambers North Down 5 May 2016
Mike Nesbitt Strangford 5 May 2011
John Stewart East Antrim 2 March 2017
Robin Swann North Antrim 5 May 2011
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (7) Kellie Armstrong Strangford 5 May 2016
Paula Bradshaw Belfast South 5 May 2016
Stewart Dickson East Antrim 5 May 2011
John Blair † South Antrim 27 June 2018
Naomi Long †† Belfast East 9 January 2020
Chris Lyttle Belfast East 5 July 2010
Andrew Muir † North Down 16 December 2019
Green Party Northern Ireland (2) Clare Bailey Belfast South 5 May 2016
Rachel Woods † North Down 7 October 2019
People Before Profit (1) Gerry Carroll Belfast West 5 May 2016
Traditional Unionist Voice (1) Jim Allister North Antrim 5 May 2011
Independent Unionist (3) Alex Easton ‡ North Down 26 November 2003
Claire Sugden East Londonderry 6 May 2014
Jim Wells ‡ South Down 25 June 1998
Independent (1) Trevor Lunn ‡ Lagan Valley 7 March 2007
Speaker (1) Alex Maskey ‡ Belfast West 25 June 1998

† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA

‡ Changed affiliation during the term

MLAs by constituency

Constituency Name Party
Belfast East
 Andy Allen Ulster Unionist Party
Joanne Bunting Democratic Unionist Party
Naomi Long †† Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Chris Lyttle Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Robin Newton Democratic Unionist Party
Belfast North
 Paula Bradley Democratic Unionist Party
William Humphrey Democratic Unionist Party
Gerry Kelly Sinn Féin
Nichola Mallon Social Democratic and Labour Party
Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin
Belfast South
 Clare Bailey Green Party Northern Ireland
Paula Bradshaw Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Deirdre Hargey † Sinn Féin
Matthew O'Toole † Social Democratic and Labour Party
Edwin Poots † Democratic Unionist Party
Belfast West
 Gerry Carroll People Before Profit
Órlaithí Flynn Sinn Féin
Alex Maskey ‡ Speaker
Aisling Reilly † Sinn Féin
Pat Sheehan Sinn Féin
East Antrim
 Roy Beggs, Jr. Ulster Unionist Party
Stewart Dickson Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
David Hilditch Democratic Unionist Party
Gordon Lyons Democratic Unionist Party
John Stewart Ulster Unionist Party
East Londonderry
 Caoimhe Archibald Sinn Féin
Maurice Bradley Democratic Unionist Party
Cara Hunter † Social Democratic and Labour Party
George Robinson Democratic Unionist Party
Claire Sugden Independent Unionist
Fermanagh and South Tyrone
 Rosemary Barton Ulster Unionist Party
Jemma Dolan Sinn Féin
Deborah Erskine † Democratic Unionist Party
Colm Gildernew † Sinn Féin
Aine Murphy † Sinn Féin
Foyle
 Pádraig Delargy †† Sinn Féin
Mark H. Durkan Social Democratic and Labour Party
Ciara Ferguson †† Sinn Féin
Sinead McLaughlin † Social Democratic and Labour Party
Gary Middleton Democratic Unionist Party
Lagan Valley
 Robbie Butler Ulster Unionist Party
Pat Catney Social Democratic and Labour Party
Paul Givan Democratic Unionist Party
Trevor Lunn ‡ Independent
Paul Rankin † Democratic Unionist Party
Mid Ulster
 Keith Buchanan Democratic Unionist Party
Linda Dillon Sinn Féin
Patsy McGlone Social Democratic and Labour Party
Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin
Emma Sheerin † Sinn Féin
Newry and Armagh
 Cathal Boylan Sinn Féin
William Irwin Democratic Unionist Party
Liz Kimmins † Sinn Féin
Justin McNulty Social Democratic and Labour Party
Conor Murphy Sinn Féin
North Antrim
 Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice
Paul Frew Democratic Unionist Party
Philip McGuigan Sinn Féin
Mervyn Storey Democratic Unionist Party
Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party
North Down
 Alan Chambers Ulster Unionist Party
Stephen Dunne † Democratic Unionist Party
Alex Easton ‡ Independent Unionist
Andrew Muir † Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Rachel Woods † Green Party Northern Ireland
South Antrim
 Steve Aiken Ulster Unionist Party
John Blair † Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Pam Cameron Democratic Unionist Party
Trevor Clarke † Democratic Unionist Party
Declan Kearney Sinn Féin
South Down
 Sinéad Bradley Social Democratic and Labour Party
Sinéad Ennis Sinn Féin
Colin McGrath Social Democratic and Labour Party
Emma Rogan † Sinn Féin
Jim Wells ‡ Independent Unionist
Strangford
 Kellie Armstrong Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Harry Harvey † Democratic Unionist Party
Michelle McIlveen Democratic Unionist Party
Mike Nesbitt Ulster Unionist Party
Peter Weir Democratic Unionist Party
Upper Bann
 Doug Beattie Ulster Unionist Party
Jonathan Buckley Democratic Unionist Party
Diane Dodds † Democratic Unionist Party
Dolores Kelly Social Democratic and Labour Party
John O'Dowd Sinn Féin
West Tyrone
 Nicola Brogan †† Sinn Féin
Thomas Buchanan Democratic Unionist Party
Declan McAleer Sinn Féin
Daniel McCrossan Social Democratic and Labour Party
Maolíosa McHugh † Sinn Féin

† 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
20 June 2017 West Tyrone Sinn Féin Barry McElduff Catherine Kelly Barry McElduff elected as Member of Parliament for West Tyrone in the 2017 general election.[7]
20 June 2017 Foyle Sinn Féin Elisha McCallion Karen Mullan Elisha McCallion elected as Member of Parliament for Foyle in the 2017 general election.[7]
20 June 2017 Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin Michelle Gildernew Colm Gildernew Michelle Gildernew elected as Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 2017 general election.[7]
20 June 2017 South Down Sinn Féin Chris Hazzard Emma Rogan Chris Hazzard elected as Member of Parliament for South Down in the 2017 general election.[7]
28 June 2017 South Antrim DUP Paul Girvan Trevor Clarke Paul Girvan elected as Member of Parliament for South Antrim in the 2017 general election.[8]
27 June 2018 South Antrim Alliance David Ford John Blair David Ford resigned.[9]
4 December 2018 Mid Ulster Sinn Féin Ian Milne Emma Sheerin Ian Milne was co-opted to Mid Ulster District Council.[10]
28 May 2019 West Tyrone Sinn Féin Michaela Boyle Maoliosa McHugh Michaela Boyle was elected to Derry and Strabane District Council in the 2019 Northern Ireland local elections.
1 July 2019 Belfast East Alliance Naomi Long Máire Hendron Naomi Long elected as Member of the European Parliament for Northern Ireland in the 2019 European Parliament Election.
12 September 2019 Strangford DUP Simon Hamilton Harry Harvey Simon Hamilton resigned.
7 October 2019 North Down Green (NI) Steven Agnew Rachel Woods Steven Agnew resigned.
16 December 2019 North Down Alliance Stephen Farry Andrew Muir Stephen Farry was elected as Member of Parliament for North Down in the 2019 general election.
9 January 2020 Belfast East Alliance Máire Hendron Naomi Long Máire Hendron resigned.
9 January 2020 Upper Bann DUP Carla Lockhart Diane Dodds Carla Lockhart was elected as Member of Parliament for Upper Bann in the 2019 general election.
9 January 2020 Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin Megan Fearon Liz Kimmins Megan Fearon resigned.
9 January 2020 Belfast South Sinn Féin Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Deirdre Hargey Máirtín Ó Muilleoir resigned.
9 January 2020 Foyle SDLP Colum Eastwood Sinead McLaughlin Colum Eastwood was elected as Member of Parliament for Foyle in the 2019 general election.
9 January 2020 Belfast South SDLP Claire Hanna Matthew O'Toole Claire Hanna was elected as Member of Parliament for Belfast South in the 2019 general election.
10 February 2020 Foyle Sinn Féin Raymond McCartney Martina Anderson Raymond McCartney resigned.[11]
18 May 2020 East Londonderry SDLP John Dallat Cara Hunter John Dallat died.[12]
6 November 2020 West Tyrone Sinn Féin Catherine Kelly Nicola Brogan Catherine Kelly resigned.[13]
28 June 2021 North Down DUP Gordon Dunne Stephen Dunne Gordon Dunne died.[14]
4 July 2021 Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin Sean Lynch Aine Murphy Sean Lynch resigned.[15]
13 September 2021 Foyle Sinn Féin Karen Mullan Pádraig Delargy Karen Mullan resigned.[16]
13 September 2021 Foyle Sinn Féin Martina Anderson Ciara Ferguson Martina Anderson resigned.[16]
11 October 2021 Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP Arlene Foster Deborah Erskine Arlene Foster resigned.[17]
14 October 2021 Belfast West Sinn Féin Fra McCann Aisling Reilly Fra McCann resigned.[18]
7 March 2022 Belfast South DUP Christopher Stalford Edwin Poots Christopher Stalford died.[19]
14 March 2022 Lagan Valley DUP Edwin Poots Paul Rankin Edwin Poots resigned in order to be transferred to Belfast South.[20]

‡ Changes in affiliation

Date Constituency Name Previous affiliation New affiliation Circumstance
9 May 2018 South Down Jim Wells DUP Ind. Unionist DUP whip withdrawn from Jim Wells following criticisms of the party leadership.[21]
11 January 2020 Belfast West Alex Maskey Sinn Féin Speaker Alex Maskey elected Speaker of the Assembly at its first sitting.
2 March 2020 Lagan Valley Trevor Lunn Alliance Independent Trevor Lunn resigned from Alliance due to "internal difficulties".[22]
1 July 2021 North Down Alex Easton DUP Ind. Unionist Alex Easton resigned from the DUP following changes in the party leadership.[23]

Notes

  1. ^ Once elected, the Speaker relinquishes party affiliation.

References

  1. ^ "Northern Ireland Assembly election 2017 results". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Assembly Members (Reduction of Numbers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016". legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  3. ^ McClafferty, Enda. "Assembly election 'a brutal result for unionism'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Tributes to mark the passing of former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness". YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Stormont talks paused until after General Election". ITV News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Parties return to Stormont after striking deal". 11 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d "New MLAs". The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  8. ^ "New MLA - South Antrim Constituency". The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  9. ^ McCormack, Jayne (27 June 2018). "First openly gay MLA takes Stormont seat". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Sinn Féin co-opt Emma Sheerin in Mid Ulster". The Irish News. 24 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  11. ^ "MLA Details: Ms Martina Anderson". Aims.niassembly.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  12. ^ "East Londonderry: Hunter replaces John Dallat as MLA". BBC News. 18 May 2020. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Nicola Brogan to replace Sinn Fein's Catherine Kelly as West Tyrone MLA following Covid payment scandal". Belfast Telegraph. 6 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Like father like son for Dunne family as councillor co-opted as DUP MLA". BBC. 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Michelle O'Neill pays tribute to Sinn Fein MLA Sean Lynch as he steps down after 10 years". Belfast Telegraph. 4 July 2021. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Sinn Féin selects Pádraig Delargy and Ciara Ferguson as new Foyle MLAs". BBC. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Deborah Erskine replaces Arlene Foster as Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA". BBC News. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Sinn Fein selects former world handball champion Aisling Reilly as new west Belfast MLA". Belfast Telegraph. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  19. ^ "DUP confirm Edwin Poots will take Christopher Stalford's South Belfast seat". BBC News. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Declaration of Return of New MLA - Lagan Valley Constituency". The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  21. ^ "DUP's Wells has the whip withdrawn after attack on leadership". Belfasttelegraph. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  22. ^ "Trevor Lunn resigns from Alliance Party". Belfast Telegraph. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  23. ^ Breen, Suzanne (1 July 2021). "Fresh DUP crisis as MLA Alex Easton quits accusing party of having 'no respect, discipline or decency'". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
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