1st Northern Ireland Assembly

1st Northern Ireland Assembly
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Overview
Legislative bodyAssembly
JurisdictionNorthern Ireland
Meeting placeParliament Buildings,
Stormont
Term1 July 1998 – 14 October 2002
Election1998 assembly election
GovernmentExecutive of the 1st Assembly
Members108
SpeakerLord Alderdice
First MinisterDavid Trimble
— Reg Empey
until 6 November 2001
— David Trimble
until 1 July 2001
Deputy First MinisterMark Durkan
— Seamus Mallon
until 6 November 2001
Sessions
1st1 July 1998 – 9 March 1999
2nd15 July 1999 – 8 February 2000
3rd5 June 2000 – 4 July 2000
4th11 September 2000 – 4 July 2001
5th10 September 2001 – 3 July 2002
6th9 September 2002 – 14 October 2002

This is a list of the 108 members of the first Northern Ireland Assembly, the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland established by the Good Friday Agreement. Members (fully Members of the Legislative Assembly, MLAs) elected in June 1998 are listed,[1] as well as those subsequently co-opted to replace those who had resigned or deceased.[2] MLAs are grouped by party, and changes in party affiliation are noted.[2]

Party strengths

Party Designation Jun 1998
election		 Oct 2002
end
● Ulster Unionist Party Unionist 28 27
● Social Democratic and Labour Party Nationalist 24 23
● Democratic Unionist Party Unionist 20 20
● Sinn Féin Nationalist 18 18
  Alliance Party Other 6 5
  UK Unionist Party Unionist 5 1
  Progressive Unionist Party Unionist 2 2
  Northern Ireland Women's Coalition Other 2 2
United Unionist Coalition Unionist - 3
Northern Ireland Unionist Party Unionist - 3
  Independent Nationalist 0 1
  Independent Unionist 3 2
  Speaker None 0 1
Totals by designation Unionist 58 58
Nationalist 42 42
Other 8 5
None 0 1
Total 108
● = Northern Ireland Executive

Graphical representation

  • At election, 25 Jun 1998
    At election, 25 Jun 1998
  • 1 Jul to 21 Sep 1998
    1 Jul to 21 Sep 1998
  • 18 Oct 2003 to end
    18 Oct 2003 to end

This is not the official seating plan.

MLAs by party

This is a list of MLAs elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election, sorted by party.

Party Name Constituency
Ulster Unionist Party (26) Ian Adamson Belfast East
Billy Armstrong Mid Ulster
Roy Beggs, Jr. East Antrim
Billy Bell Lagan Valley
Esmond Birnie South Belfast
Fred Cobain Belfast North
Robert Coulter North Antrim
Joan Carson Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Ivan Davis Lagan Valley
Reg Empey Belfast East
Sam Foster Fermanagh and South Tyrone
John Gorman North Down
Tom Hamilton † Strangford
Derek Hussey West Tyrone
Danny Kennedy Newry and Armagh
James Leslie North Antrim
David McClarty East Londonderry
Alan McFarland North Down
Michael McGimpsey Belfast South
Dermot Nesbitt South Down
Duncan Shipley-Dalton South Antrim
Ken Robinson East Antrim
George Savage Upper Bann
John Taylor Strangford
David Trimble Upper Bann
Jim Wilson South Antrim
Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) Alex Attwood Belfast West
P. J. Bradley South Down
Joe Byrne West Tyrone
Michael Coyle † East Londonderry
John Dallat East Londonderry
Mark Durkan Foyle
Sean Farren North Antrim
John Fee Newry and Armagh
Tommy Gallagher Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Carmel Hanna Belfast South
Denis Haughey Mid Ulster
Joe Hendron Belfast West
Patricia Lewsley Lagan Valley
Alban Maginness Belfast North
Seamus Mallon Newry and Armagh
Donovan McClelland South Antrim
Alasdair McDonnell Belfast South
Eddie McGrady South Down
Eugene McMenamin West Tyrone
Danny O'Connor East Antrim
Eamon O'Neill South Down
Bríd Rodgers Upper Bann
John Tierney Foyle
Democratic Unionist Party (21) Paul Berry Newry and Armagh
Gregory Campbell East Londonderry
Mervyn Carrick Upper Bann
Wilson Clyde South Antrim
Nigel Dodds Belfast North
Oliver Gibson West Tyrone
William Hay Foyle
David Hilditch East Antrim
William McCrea Mid Ulster
Maurice Morrow Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Ian Paisley North Antrim
Ian Paisley Jr. North Antrim
Edwin Poots Lagan Valley
Iris Robinson Strangford
Mark Robinson Belfast South
Peter Robinson Belfast East
Jim Shannon Strangford
Denis Watson ‡ Upper Bann
Peter Weir ‡ North Down
Jim Wells South Down
Sammy Wilson Belfast East
Sinn Féin (18) Gerry Adams Belfast West
Bairbre de Brún Belfast West
Pat Doherty West Tyrone
Michelle Gildernew Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Gerry Kelly Belfast North
John Kelly Mid Ulster
Alex Maskey Belfast West
Barry McElduff West Tyrone
Martin McGuinness Mid Ulster
Gerry McHugh Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Mitchel McLaughlin Foyle
Pat McNamee Newry and Armagh
Francie Molloy Mid Ulster
Conor Murphy Newry and Armagh
Mick Murphy South Down
Mary Nelis Foyle
Dara O'Hagan Upper Bann
Sue Ramsey Belfast West
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (5) Eileen Bell North Down
Seamus Close Lagan Valley
David Ford South Antrim
Kieran McCarthy Strangford
Seán Neeson East Antrim
Progressive Unionist Party (2) David Ervine Belfast East
Billy Hutchinson Belfast North
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (2) Monica McWilliams Belfast South
Jane Morrice North Down
UK Unionist Party (2) Pauline Armitage ‡ East Londonderry
Robert McCartney North Down
Northern Ireland Unionist Party (3) Norman Boyd ‡ South Antrim
Patrick Roche ‡ Lagan Valley
Cedric Wilson ‡ Strangford
United Unionist Coalition (2) Fraser Agnew ‡ Belfast North
Boyd Douglas ‡ East Londonderry
Independent Unionist (2) Roger Hutchinson ‡ East Antrim
Gardiner Kane ‡ North Antrim
Independent Nationalist (1) Annie Courtney †‡ Foyle
Speaker (1) John Alderdice ‡ Belfast East

† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA

‡ Changed affiliation during the term

MLAs by constituency

The list is given in alphabetical order by constituency.

Members of the 1st Northern Ireland Assembly
Constituency Name Party
Belfast East Ian Adamson Ulster Unionist Party
John Alderdice ‡ Speaker
Reg Empey Ulster Unionist Party
David Ervine Progressive Unionist Party
Peter Robinson Democratic Unionist Party
Sammy Wilson Democratic Unionist Party
Belfast North Fraser Agnew ‡ United Unionist Coalition
Fred Cobain Ulster Unionist Party
Nigel Dodds Democratic Unionist Party
Billy Hutchinson Progressive Unionist Party
Gerry Kelly Sinn Féin
Alban Maginness Social Democratic and Labour Party
Belfast South Esmond Birnie Ulster Unionist Party
Carmel Hanna Social Democratic and Labour Party
Alasdair McDonnell Social Democratic and Labour Party
Michael McGimpsey Ulster Unionist Party
Monica McWilliams Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
Mark Robinson Democratic Unionist Party
Belfast West Gerry Adams Sinn Féin
Alex Attwood Social Democratic and Labour Party
Bairbre de Brún Sinn Féin
Joe Hendron Social Democratic and Labour Party
Alex Maskey Sinn Féin
Sue Ramsey Sinn Féin
East Antrim Roy Beggs, Jr. Ulster Unionist Party
Sean Neeson Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
David Hilditch Democratic Unionist Party
Roger Hutchinson ‡ Independent Unionist
Danny O'Connor Social Democratic and Labour Party
Ken Robinson Ulster Unionist Party
East Londonderry Pauline Armitage ‡ United Kingdom Unionist Party
Gregory Campbell Democratic Unionist Party
Michael Coyle † Social Democratic and Labour Party
John Dallat Social Democratic and Labour Party
Boyd Douglas ‡ United Unionist Coalition
David McClarty Ulster Unionist Party
Fermanagh and South Tyrone Joan Carson Ulster Unionist Party
Sam Foster Ulster Unionist Party
Tommy Gallagher Social Democratic and Labour Party
Michelle Gildernew Sinn Féin
Gerry McHugh Sinn Féin
Maurice Morrow Democratic Unionist Party
Foyle Annie Courtney †‡ Independent Nationalist
Mark Durkan Social Democratic and Labour Party
William Hay Democratic Unionist Party
Mitchel McLaughlin Sinn Féín
Mary Nelis Sinn Féín
John Tierney Social Democratic and Labour Party
Lagan Valley Billy Bell Ulster Unionist Party
Seamus Close Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Ivan Davis Ulster Unionist Party
Patricia Lewsley Social Democratic and Labour Party
Edwin Poots Democratic Unionist Party
Patrick Roche ‡ Northern Ireland Unionist Party
Mid Ulster Billy Armstrong Ulster Unionist Party
Denis Haughey Social Democratic and Labour Party
John Kelly Sinn Féin
William McCrea Democratic Unionist Party
Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin
Francie Molloy Sinn Féin
Newry and Armagh Paul Berry Democratic Unionist Party
John Fee Social Democratic and Labour Party
Danny Kennedy Ulster Unionist Party
Pat McNamee Sinn Féin
Conor Murphy Sinn Féin
Seamus Mallon Social Democratic and Labour Party
North Antrim Robert Coulter Ulster Unionist Party
Sean Farren Social Democratic and Labour Party
Gardiner Kane ‡ Independent Unionist
James Leslie Ulster Unionist Party
Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist Party
Ian Paisley Jr Democratic Unionist Party
North Down Eileen Bell Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
John Gorman Ulster Unionist Party
Robert McCartney United Kingdom Unionist Party
Alan McFarland Ulster Unionist Party
Jane Morrice Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
Peter Weir ‡ Democratic Unionist Party
South Antrim Norman Boyd ‡ Northern Ireland Unionist Party
Wilson Clyde Democratic Unionist Party
David Ford Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Donovan McClelland Social Democratic and Labour Party
Duncan Shipley-Dalton Ulster Unionist Party
Jim Wilson Ulster Unionist Party
South Down P. J. Bradley Social Democratic and Labour Party
Dermot Nesbitt Ulster Unionist Party
Eddie McGrady Social Democratic and Labour Party
Mick Murphy Sinn Féin
Eamon O'Neill Social Democratic and Labour Party
Jim Wells Democratic Unionist Party
Strangford Tom Hamilton † Ulster Unionist Party
Kieran McCarthy Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Iris Robinson Democratic Unionist Party
Jim Shannon Democratic Unionist Party
John Taylor Ulster Unionist Party
Cedric Wilson ‡ Northern Ireland Unionist Party
Upper Bann Mervyn Carrick Democratic Unionist Party
Dara O'Hagan Sinn Féin
Bríd Rodgers Social Democratic and Labour Party
George Savage Ulster Unionist Party
David Trimble Ulster Unionist Party
Denis Watson ‡ Democratic Unionist Party
West Tyrone Joe Byrne Social Democratic and Labour Party
Pat Doherty Sinn Féin
Oliver Gibson Democratic Unionist Party
Derek Hussey Ulster Unionist Party
Barry McElduff Sinn Féin
Eugene McMenamin Social Democratic and Labour Party

† 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
11 December 2000 Foyle SDLP John Hume Annie Courtney Resignation of John Hume.
22 January 2001 Strangford UUP Tom Benson Tom Hamilton Death of Tom Benson.
9 September 2002 East Londonderry SDLP Arthur Doherty Michael Coyle Death of Arthur Doherty.

‡ Changes in affiliation

Date Constituency Name Previous affiliation New affiliation Circumstance
21 September 1998 Belfast North Fraser Agnew Ind. Unionist United Unionist Coalition Fraser Agnew established a new political party to access facilities provided to Assembly parties.
21 September 1998 East Londonderry Boyd Douglas Ind. Unionist United Unionist Coalition Boyd Douglas established a new political party to access facilities provided to Assembly parties.
21 September 1998 Upper Bann Denis Watson Ind. Unionist United Unionist Coalition Denis Watson established a new political party to access facilities provided to Assembly parties.
4 January 1999 Strangford Cedric Wilson UK Unionist Ind. Unionist Cedric Wilson left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive.
4 January 1999 South Antrim Norman Boyd UK Unionist Ind. Unionist Norman Boyd left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive.
4 January 1999 Lagan Valley Patrick Roche UK Unionist Ind. Unionist Patrick Roche left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive.
4 January 1999 East Antrim Roger Hutchinson UK Unionist Ind. Unionist Roger Hutchinson left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive.
24 March 1999 Strangford Cedric Wilson Ind. Unionist NI Unionist Cedric Wilson established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP.
24 March 1999 South Antrim Norman Boyd Ind. Unionist NI Unionist Norman Boyd established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP.
24 March 1999 Lagan Valley Patrick Roche Ind. Unionist NI Unionist Patrick Roche established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP.
24 March 1999 East Antrim Roger Hutchinson Ind. Unionist NI Unionist Roger Hutchinson established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP.
1 December 1999 East Antrim Roger Hutchinson NI Unionist Ind. Unionist Roger Hutchinson expelled from the NIUP for sitting on Assembly committees against party policy.
5 July 2000 Upper Bann Denis Watson United Unionist Coalition DUP Denis Watson joined the DUP.
2 November 2001 East Londonderry Pauline Armitage UUP Ind. Unionist Pauline Armitage suspended from the UUP for voting against the party whip.
9 November 2001 North Down Peter Weir UUP Ind. Unionist Peter Weir expelled from the UUP for refusing to support the re-nomination of David Trimble as First Minister.
1 April 2002 East Antrim Roger Hutchinson Ind. Unionist DUP Roger Hutchinson joined the DUP.
30 April 2002 North Down Peter Weir Ind. Unionist DUP Peter Weir joined the DUP.
11 November 2002 North Antrim Gardiner Kane DUP Ind. Unionist Gardiner Kane resigned from the DUP.
1 April 2003 Foyle Annie Courtney SDLP Ind. Nationalist Annie Courtney resigned from the SDLP after not being re-selected by the party as a candidate for the 2003 Assembly election.
12 June 2003 East Londonderry Pauline Armitage Ind. Unionist UK Unionist Pauline Armitage resigned her membership of UUP and joined the UKUP.
18 October 2003 East Antrim Roger Hutchinson DUP Ind. Unionist Roger Hutchinson resigned from the DUP to contest the 2003 Assembly election as an independent unionist.

References

  1. ^ "Northern Ireland Elections: Candidates in the 1998 NI Assembly Election". www.ark.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office. "The Northern Ireland Assembly - Chronology (1998–2003)". archive.niassembly.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.

See also