List of members of the 6th Northern Ireland Assembly

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]

6th Northern Ireland Assembly
←5th Assembly
Overview
Legislative bodyAssembly
JurisdictionNorthern Ireland
Meeting placeParliament Buildings,
Stormont
Election2017 assembly election
GovernmentExecutive of the 6th Assembly
Members90
SpeakerAlex Maskey
First MinisterPaul Givan
Deputy First MinisterMichelle O'Neill

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
PartyDesignationElected Current
Democratic Unionist PartyUnionist28 26
Sinn FéinNationalist27 27
Social Democratic and Labour PartyNationalist12 12
Ulster Unionist PartyUnionist10 10
Alliance Party of Northern IrelandOther8 7
Green Party in Northern IrelandOther2 2
Traditional Unionist VoiceUnionist1 1
People Before Profit AllianceOther1 1
IndependentOther0 1
Independent UnionistUnionist1 3
Totals by DesignationUnionist40 40
Nationalist39 39
Other11 11
Total[1]90 90

Graphical representation
  • As elected, 2 March 2017
  • 9 May 2018
  • Current composition, from 10 January 2019
  • Current composition following the election of the Speaker from Sinn Féin, 11 January 2020


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 BuckleyUpper Bann 2 March 2017
Joanne BuntingBelfast East 5 May 2016
Pam CameronSouth Antrim 5 May 2011
Trevor Clarke †South Antrim 28 June 2017
Stephen Dunne †North Down 28 June 2021
Deborah Erskine †Fermanagh and South Tyrone 11 October 2021
Paul FrewNorth Antrim 21 June 2010
Paul GivanLagan Valley 10 June 2010
Harry Harvey †Strangford 12 September 2019
David HilditchEast Antrim 25 June 1998
William HumphreyBelfast North 13 September 2010
William IrwinNewry and Armagh 7 March 2007
Diane Dodds †Upper Bann 9 January 2020
Gordon LyonsEast Antrim 19 August 2015
Michelle McIlveenStrangford 7 March 2007
Gary MiddletonFoyle 13 April 2015
Robin NewtonBelfast East 26 November 2003
Edwin PootsLagan Valley 25 June 1998
George RobinsonEast Londonderry 26 November 2003
Christopher StalfordBelfast South 5 May 2016
Mervyn StoreyNorth Antrim 26 November 2003
Peter WeirStrangford 25 June 1998
Sinn Féin (27) Caoimhe Archibald East Londonderry 5 May 2016
Cathal BoylanNewry and Armagh 7 March 2007
Nicola Brogan ††West Tyrone 6 November 2020
Pádraig Delargy ††Foyle 13 September 2021
Linda DillonMid Ulster 5 May 2016
Jemma DolanFermanagh and South Tyrone 2 March 2017
Sinéad EnnisSouth Down 2 March 2017
Ciara Ferguson ††Foyle 13 September 2021
Órlaithí FlynnBelfast West 7 December 2016
Colm Gildernew †Fermanagh and South Tyrone 20 June 2017
Deirdre Hargey †Belfast South 9 January 2020
Declan KearneySouth Antrim 5 May 2016
Gerry KellyBelfast North 25 June 1998
Liz Kimmins †Newry and Armagh 9 January 2020
Alex MaskeyBelfast West 25 June 1998
Declan McAleerWest Tyrone 5 May 2011
Philip McGuiganNorth 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 MurphyNewry and Armagh 8 June 2015
Carál Ní ChuilínBelfast North 7 March 2007
John O'DowdUpper Bann 26 November 2003
Michelle O'NeillMid Ulster 7 March 2007
Pat SheehanBelfast West 7 December 2010
Social Democratic and Labour Party (12) Sinéad Bradley South Down 5 May 2016
Pat CatneyLagan Valley 2 March 2017
Cara Hunter †East Londonderry 18 May 2020
Mark H. DurkanFoyle 5 May 2011
Dolores KellyUpper Bann 2 March 2017
Nichola MallonBelfast North 5 May 2016
Daniel McCrossanWest Tyrone 7 January 2016
Patsy McGloneMid Ulster 26 November 2003
Colin McGrathSouth Down 5 May 2016
Sinead McLaughlin †Foyle 10 January 2020
Justin McNultyNewry 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 AllenBelfast East 15 September 2015
Rosemary BartonFermanagh and South Tyrone 5 May 2016
Doug BeattieUpper Bann 5 May 2016
Roy Beggs, Jr.East Antrim 25 June 1998
Robbie ButlerLagan Valley 5 May 2016
Alan ChambersNorth Down 5 May 2016
Mike NesbittStrangford 5 May 2011
John StewartEast Antrim 2 March 2017
Robin SwannNorth Antrim 5 May 2011
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (7) Kellie Armstrong Strangford 5 May 2016
Paula BradshawBelfast South 5 May 2016
Stewart DicksonEast Antrim 5 May 2011
John Blair †South Antrim 27 June 2018
Naomi Long ††Belfast East 9 January 2020
Chris LyttleBelfast East 5 July 2010
Andrew Muir †North Down 16 December 2019
Green Party in Northern Ireland (2) Clare Bailey Belfast South 5 May 2016
Rachel Woods † North Down 7 October 2019
People Before Profit Alliance (1) Gerry Carroll Belfast West 5 May 2016
Traditional Unionist Voice (1) Jim Allister North Antrim 5 May 2011
Independent Unionist (3) Claire Sugden East Londonderry 6 May 2014
Alex Easton ‡North Down 26 November 2003
Jim Wells ‡South Down 25 June 1998
Independent (1) Trevor Lunn ‡Lagan Valley 7 March 2007

† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA

‡ Changed affiliation during the term

MLAs by constituency
Constituency Name Party
Belfast East
 Andy AllenUlster Unionist Party
Joanne BuntingDemocratic Unionist Party
Naomi Long ††Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Chris LyttleAlliance Party of Northern Ireland
Robin NewtonDemocratic Unionist Party
Belfast North
 Paula BradleyDemocratic Unionist Party
William HumphreyDemocratic Unionist Party
Gerry KellySinn Féin
Nichola MallonSocial Democratic and Labour Party
Carál Ní ChuilínSinn Féin
Belfast South
 Clare BaileyGreen Party in Northern Ireland
Paula BradshawAlliance Party of Northern Ireland
Deirdre Hargey †Sinn Féin
Matthew O'Toole †Social Democratic and Labour Party
Christopher StalfordDemocratic Unionist Party
Belfast West
 Gerry CarrollPeople Before Profit Alliance
Órlaithí FlynnSinn Féin
Alex MaskeySinn Féin
Aisling Reilly †Sinn Féin
Pat SheehanSinn Féin
East Antrim
 Roy Beggs, Jr.Ulster Unionist Party
Stewart DicksonAlliance Party of Northern Ireland
David HilditchDemocratic Unionist Party
Gordon LyonsDemocratic Unionist Party
John StewartUlster Unionist Party
East Londonderry
 Caoimhe ArchibaldSinn Féin
Maurice BradleyDemocratic Unionist Party
Cara Hunter †Social Democratic and Labour Party
George RobinsonDemocratic Unionist Party
Claire SugdenIndependent Unionist
Fermanagh and South Tyrone
 Rosemary BartonUlster Unionist Party
Jemma DolanSinn Féin
Deborah Erskine †Democratic Unionist Party
Colm Gildernew †Sinn Féin
Aine Murphy †Sinn Féin
Foyle
 Pádraig Delargy ††Sinn Féin
Mark H. DurkanSocial Democratic and Labour Party
Ciara Ferguson ††Sinn Féin
Sinead McLaughlin †Social Democratic and Labour Party
Gary MiddletonDemocratic Unionist Party
Lagan Valley
 Robbie ButlerUlster Unionist Party
Pat CatneySocial Democratic and Labour Party
Paul GivanDemocratic Unionist Party
Trevor Lunn ‡Independent
Edwin PootsDemocratic Unionist Party
Mid Ulster
 Keith BuchananDemocratic Unionist Party
Linda DillonSinn Féin
Patsy McGloneSocial Democratic and Labour Party
Michelle O'NeillSinn Féin
Emma Sheerin †Sinn Féin
Newry and Armagh
 Cathal BoylanSinn Féin
William IrwinDemocratic Unionist Party
Liz Kimmins †Sinn Féin
Justin McNultySocial Democratic and Labour Party
Conor MurphySinn Féin
North Antrim
 Jim AllisterTraditional Unionist Voice
Paul FrewDemocratic Unionist Party
Philip McGuiganSinn Féin
Mervyn StoreyDemocratic Unionist Party
Robin SwannUlster Unionist Party
North Down
 Alan ChambersUlster Unionist Party
Stephen Dunne †Democratic Unionist Party
Alex Easton ‡Independent Unionist
Andrew Muir †Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Rachel Woods †Green Party in Northern Ireland
South Antrim
 Steve AikenUlster Unionist Party
John Blair †Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Pam CameronDemocratic Unionist Party
Trevor Clarke †Democratic Unionist Party
Declan KearneySinn Féin
South Down
 Sinéad BradleySocial Democratic and Labour Party
Sinéad EnnisSinn Féin
Colin McGrathSocial Democratic and Labour Party
Emma Rogan †Sinn Féin
Jim Wells ‡Independent Unionist
Strangford
 Kellie ArmstrongAlliance Party of Northern Ireland
Harry Harvey †Democratic Unionist Party
Michelle McIlveenDemocratic Unionist Party
Mike NesbittUlster Unionist Party
Peter WeirDemocratic Unionist Party
Upper Bann
 Doug BeattieUlster Unionist Party
Jonathan BuckleyDemocratic Unionist Party
Diane Dodds †Democratic Unionist Party
Dolores KellySocial Democratic and Labour Party
John O'DowdSinn Féin
West Tyrone
 Nicola Brogan ††Sinn Féin
Thomas BuchananDemocratic Unionist Party
Declan McAleerSinn Féin
Daniel McCrossanSocial Democratic and Labour Party
Maolíosa McHugh †Sinn Féin

† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA ‡ Changed affiliation during the term

Changes since the election
Date Constituency Loss Gain Note
9 June 2017 West Tyrone Sinn Féin   Barry McElduff elected as Member of Parliament for West Tyrone in the 2017 general election.[7]
9 June 2017 Foyle Sinn Féin   Elisha McCallion elected as Member of Parliament for Foyle in the 2017 general election.[7]
9 June 2017 Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin   Michelle Gildernew elected as Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 2017 general election.[7]
9 June 2017 South Down Sinn Féin   Chris Hazzard elected as Member of Parliament for South Down in the 2017 general election.[7]
9 June 2017 South Antrim DUP   Paul Girvan elected as Member of Parliament for South Antrim in the 2017 general election.[8]
20 June 2017 West Tyrone   Sinn Féin Catherine Kelly co-opted by Sinn Féin to replace Barry McElduff.[7]
20 June 2017 Foyle   Sinn Féin Karen Mullan co-opted by Sinn Féin to replace Elisha McCallion.[7]
20 June 2017 Fermanagh and South Tyrone   Sinn Féin Colm Gildernew co-opted by Sinn Féin to replace Michelle Gildernew.[7]
20 June 2017 South Down   Sinn Féin Emma Rogan co-opted by Sinn Féin to replace Chris Hazzard.[7]
28 June 2017 South Antrim   DUP Trevor Clarke co-opted by the Democratic Unionist Party to replace Paul Girvan.[8]
9 May 2018 South Down DUP Ind U DUP whip withdrawn from Jim Wells.[9]
25 June 2018 South Antrim Alliance   David Ford resigns.[10]
27 June 2018 South Antrim   Alliance John Blair co-opted by Alliance to replace David Ford.[11]
1 December 2018 Mid Ulster Sinn Féin   Ian Milne resigns to be co-opted to Mid Ulster Council.[12]
4 December 2018 Mid Ulster   Sinn Féin Emma Sheerin co-opted to replace Ian Milne.[13]
2 May 2019 West Tyrone Sinn Féin   Michaela Boyle elected as a Councillor for Derry and Strabane District Council in the 2019 Northern Ireland local elections
28 May 2019 West Tyrone   Sinn Féin Maolíosa McHugh co-opted to replace Michaela Boyle
1 July 2019 Belfast East Alliance   Naomi Long elected as Member of the European Parliament for Northern Ireland in the 2019 European Parliament Election
1 July 2019 Belfast East   Alliance Máire Hendron co-opted by Alliance to replace Naomi Long.
2 September 2019 Strangford DUP   Simon Hamilton resigns
12 September 2019 Strangford   DUP Harry Harvey co-opted to replace Simon Hamilton
30 September 2019 North Down Green (NI)   Steven Agnew resigns
7 October 2019 North Down   Green (NI) Rachel Woods co-opted to replace Steven Agnew
12 December 2019 Upper Bann DUP   Carla Lockhart elected as Member of Parliament for the Upper Bann constituency in the 2019 general election.
12 December 2019 Foyle SDLP   Colum Eastwood elected as Member of Parliament for the Foyle constituency in the 2019 general election.
12 December 2019 Belfast South SDLP   Claire Hanna elected as Member of Parliament for the Belfast South constituency in the 2019 general election.
16 December 2019 North Down Alliance   Stephen Farry elected as Member of Parliament for North Down in the 2019 general election.
16 December 2019 North Down   Alliance Andrew Muir co-opted by Alliance to replace Stephen Farry.
6 January 2020 Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin   Megan Fearon resigns.
6 January 2020 Belfast South Sinn Féin   Máirtín Ó Muilleoir resigns.
8 January 2020 Belfast East Alliance   Máire Hendron resigns.
9 January 2020 Belfast East   Alliance Naomi Long co-opted by Alliance to replace Máire Hendron.
9 January 2020 Upper Bann   DUP Diane Dodds co-opted by DUP to replace Carla Lockhart.
9 January 2020 Newry and Armagh   Sinn Féin Liz Kimmins co-opted by Sinn Féin to replace Megan Fearon.
9 January 2020 Belfast South   Sinn Féin Deirdre Hargey co-opted by Sinn Féin to replace Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.
10 January 2020 Foyle   SDLP Sinead McLaughlin co-opted by SDLP to replace Colum Eastwood.
11 January 2020 Belfast South   SDLP Matthew O'Toole co-opted by SDLP to replace Claire Hanna.
3 February 2020 Foyle Sinn Féin   Raymond McCartney resigns.[14]
10 February 2020 Foyle   Sinn Féin Martina Anderson co-opted by Sinn Féin to replace Raymond McCartney.[15]
2 March 2020 Lagan Valley Alliance Independent Trevor Lunn resigns the Alliance whip due to "internal difficulties".[16]
5 May 2020 East Londonderry SDLP   Death of John Dallat.
18 May 2020 East Londonderry   SDLP Cara Hunter co-opted to replace John Dallat following his death.[17]
1 November 2020 West Tyrone Sinn Féin   Resignation of Catherine Kelly.[18]
6 November 2020 West Tyrone   Sinn Féin Nicola Brogan co-opted to replace Catherine Kelly.[19]
18 June 2021 North Down DUP   Resignation of Gordon Dunne due to health reasons.[20]
28 June 2021 North Down   DUP Stephen Dunne co-opted to replace Gordon Dunne.[21]
1 July 2021 North Down DUP Ind U Alex Easton resigns from the DUP.[22]
4 July 2021 Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin   Resignation of Seán Lynch.[23]
4 July 2021 Fermanagh and South Tyrone   Sinn Féin Aine Murphy co-opted to replace Seán Lynch.[23]
24 August 2021 Foyle Sinn Féin   Resignation of Karen Mullan.[24]
24 August 2021 Foyle Sinn Féin   Resignation of Martina Anderson.[24]
13 September 2021 Foyle   Sinn Féin Pádraig Delargy co-opted to replace Karen Mullan.[25]
13 September 2021 Foyle   Sinn Féin Ciara Ferguson co-opted to replace Martina Anderson.[25]
6 October 2021 Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP   Resignation of Arlene Foster.
11 October 2021 Fermanagh and South Tyrone   DUP Deborah Erskine co-opted to replace Arlene Foster.[26]
11 October 2021 Belfast West Sinn Féin   Resignation of Fra McCann.
14 October 2021 Belfast West   Sinn Féin Aisling Reilly co-opted to replace Fra McCann.[27]

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. "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. "DUP's Wells has the whip withdrawn after attack on leadership". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  10. McCormack, Jayne (25 June 2018). "David Ford stepping down from Stormont". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  11. 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.
  12. "CMIS > Councillors". mid-ulster.cmis-ni.org. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  13. "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.
  14. MLA Details: Mr Raymond McCartney Archived 26 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine, niassembly.gov.uk; accessed 13 February 2020
  15. "MLA Details: Ms Martina Anderson". Aims.niassembly.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  16. "Trevor Lunn resigns from Alliance Party". Belfast Telegraph. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  17. "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.
  18. "Sinn Fein MLA Catherine Kelly quits over Covid cash scandal after being confronted by Sunday Life". Belfast Telegraph. 1 November 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  19. "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.
  20. "DUP MLA Gordon Dunne steps down due to serious illness". BBC. 9 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  21. "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.
  22. 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.
  23. "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.
  24. "Sinn Féin Foyle MLAs to step down before September". BBC News. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  25. "Sinn Féin selects Pádraig Delargy and Ciara Ferguson as new Foyle MLAs". BBC. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  26. "Deborah Erskine replaces Arlene Foster as Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA". BBC. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  27. "Sinn Fein selects former world handball champion Aisling Reilly as new west Belfast MLA". Belfast Telegraph. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
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