Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Incumbent Robin Newton since 12 May 2016
Style	Mr. Speaker (Within the house)
Appointer	Northern Ireland Assembly (Elected by)
Term length	No limits imposed
Inaugural holder	Lord Alderdice July 1, 1998
Formation	1998
Website	Office of the Speaker

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The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly^[1] (originally having the title of Presiding Officer)^[2] is the presiding officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly, elected on a cross-community vote by the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. A Principal Deputy Speaker and two Deputy Speakers are elected to help fulfil the role. The office of Speaker is currently held by DUP MLA, Robin Newton.^[3]

The Office of the Speaker is located in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast. The Speaker is also the Chairman of the Assembly Commission, the body corporate of the Assembly, and the Chairman of the Assembly Business Committee.

History

The first person to hold the position was Lord Alderdice, appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 1998. Prior to devolution in December 1999 the position was referred to as the Initial Presiding Officer. Alderdice left office in 2004.

Eileen Bell held the office of Speaker in the Assembly established under the Northern Ireland Act 2006 which met between May and October 2006 and in the Transitional Assembly established under the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 which met between November 2006 and May 2007. Under the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 she was appointed Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007.

One of the first items of business for the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007 was to elect a new Speaker from the MLAs elected in March 2007. The only nominee was William Hay, DUP member for Foyle and he was elected unopposed.

In May 2011 the new position of Principal Deputy Speaker was created.^[4] Sinn Féin deputy speaker Francie Molloy was subsequently elected to the new position in June 2011.

Election

During the first meeting of a new Assembly a Speaker is elected. The oldest (by age) Member of the Assembly (see Father of the House) who is not seeking the appointment oversees the election as Acting Speaker. Nominees are then put forward, seconded and accepted by the nominee. A vote is then taken which must achieve the support of both sides of the house (cross-community support). A successful nominee is then deemed elected as Speaker and takes the chair. Upon election the Speaker must relinquish all party political affiliations. The newly or re-elected speaker then oversees the selection of three Deputy Speakers.

Speakers

	Name	Entered office	Left office	Party	Constituency
1.	Lord Alderdice	1 July 1998	29 February 2004	Alliance	Belfast East
2.	Eileen Bell	8 May 2007	8 May 2007	Alliance	North Down
3.	William Hay	8 May 2007	13 October 2014	DUP	Foyle
4.	Mitchel McLaughlin	12 January 2015	12 May 2016	Sinn Féin	South Antrim
5.	Robin Newton	12 May 2016	Incumbent	DUP	Belfast East

Principal Deputy Speaker

	Name	Entered office	Left office	Party	Constituency
1.	Francie Molloy	28 June 2011	15 April 2013	Sinn Féin	Mid Ulster
2.	Mitchel McLaughlin	15 April 2013	12 January 2015	Sinn Féin	South Antrim
3.	Robin Newton	20 February 2015	12 May 2016	DUP	Belfast East
4.	Caitríona Ruane	12 May 2016	Incumbent	Sinn Féin	South Down

Deputy Speakers

Name	Entered office	Left office	Party	Constituency
Sir John Gorman	31 January 2000	19 February 2002	UUP	North Down
Donovan McClelland	31 January 2000	7 May 2007	SDLP	South Antrim
Jane Morrice	31 January 2000	7 May 2007	NI Women's Coalition	North Down
Jim Wilson	25 February 2002	7 May 2007	UUP	South Antrim
Francie Molloy	8 May 2007	28 June 2011	Sinn Féin	Mid Ulster
David McClarty	8 May 2007	11 May 2011	UUP	East Londonderry
John Dallat	8 May 2007	12 May 2016	SDLP	East Londonderry
Roy Beggs Jr	12 May 2011	12 May 2016	UUP	East Antrim
Patsy McGlone	12 May 2016	Incumbent	SDLP	Mid Ulster
Danny Kennedy	12 May 2016	Incumbent	UUP	Newry and Armagh

References

↑ Northern Ireland Assembly standing orders make provision for a presiding officer who shall have the title Speaker 1. The Speaker
↑ S. 39 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (which provides for a "Presiding Officer")
↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-36270828
↑ "Francie Molloy is assembly's principal deputy speaker". BBC News Online. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.

External links

Office of the Speaker

Northern Ireland Assembly

Assembly	Speaker Assembly Commission Acts Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Parliament Buildings

Committees	Executive Office Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Communities Economy Education Finance Health Infrastructure

Constituencies	Belfast East Belfast North Belfast South Belfast West East Antrim East Londonderry Fermanagh and South Tyrone Foyle Lagan Valley Mid Ulster Newry and Armagh North Antrim North Down South Antrim South Down Strangford Upper Bann West Tyrone

Parties	Current: Alliance Democratic Unionist Green People Before Profit Alliance Sinn Féin Social Democratic and Labour Traditional Unionist Voice Ulster Unionist

Elections	1998 2003 2007 2011 2016

Procedure	Cross-community vote

See also	Good Friday Agreement St Andrews Agreement

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