7th Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland MLAs 2022 to present

7th Northern Ireland Assembly

| <-| 6th 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

[edit]

Party  | Designation  | Elected  | Current

|
|
|

●  | Sinn Féin | Nationalist  | 27  | 27
●  | Democratic Unionist Party | Unionist  | 25  | 25
●  | 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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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
Aoife Finnegan †  | Newry and Armagh | 9 February 2025
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
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
Diana Armstrong †  | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 27 September 2024
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
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

[edit]

Members are ranked by their order of election, and if co-opted, the position of the person who they co-opted.

Constituency  | Name  | Party

|
|

Belfast East
| Naomi Long*  |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Joanne Bunting |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Peter McReynolds |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
David Brooks |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Andy Allen |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Belfast North
| Gerry Kelly |  | Sinn Féin
Carál Ní Chuilín |  | Sinn Féin
Phillip Brett |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Brian Kingston |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Nuala McAllister |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Belfast South
| Deirdre Hargey |  | Sinn Féin
Edwin Poots ‡ |  | Speaker
Matthew O'Toole*  |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Paula Bradshaw |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Kate Nicholl |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Belfast West
| Danny Baker |  | Sinn Féin
Órlaithí Flynn |  | Sinn Féin
Pat Sheehan |  | Sinn Féin
Aisling Reilly |  | Sinn Féin
Gerry Carroll |  | People Before Profit
East Antrim
| John Stewart |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Gordon Lyons |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Stewart Dickson |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Danny Donnelly |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Cheryl Brownlee †  |  | Democratic Unionist Party
East Londonderry
| Maurice Bradley |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Alan Robinson |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Claire Sugden |  | Independent Unionist
Caoimhe Archibald |  | Sinn Féin
Cara Hunter |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Fermanagh and South Tyrone
| Jemma Dolan |  | Sinn Féin
Diana Armstrong †  |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Colm Gildernew |  | Sinn Féin
Aine Murphy |  | Sinn Féin
Deborah Erskine |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Foyle
| Pádraig Delargy |  | Sinn Féin
Mark Durkan |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Ciara Ferguson |  | Sinn Féin
Sinéad McLaughlin |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Gary Middleton |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Lagan Valley
| Emma Little-Pengelly †  |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Robbie Butler |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Michelle Guy †  |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Paul Givan*  |  | Democratic Unionist Party
David Honeyford |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Mid Ulster
| Michelle O'Neill*  |  | Sinn Féin
Emma Sheerin |  | Sinn Féin
Linda Dillon |  | Sinn Féin
Keith Buchanan |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Patsy McGlone |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Newry and Armagh
| Aoife Finnegan †  |  | Sinn Féin
Cathal Boylan |  | Sinn Féin
Justin McNulty ‡‡  |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Liz Kimmins |  | Sinn Féin
William Irwin |  | Democratic Unionist Party
North Antrim
| Colin Crawford †  |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Philip McGuigan |  | Sinn Féin
Timothy Gaston †  |  | Traditional Unionist Voice
Paul Frew |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Sian Mulholland †  |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
North Down
| Peter Martin †  |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Andrew Muir |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Stephen Dunne |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Alan Chambers |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Connie Egan |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
South Antrim
| Declan Kearney |  | Sinn Féin
John Blair |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Steve Aiken |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Pam Cameron |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Trevor Clarke |  | Democratic Unionist Party
South Down
| Sinéad Ennis |  | Sinn Féin
Cathy Mason |  | Sinn Féin
Andrew McMurray †  |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Diane Forsythe |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Colin McGrath |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Strangford
| Kellie Armstrong |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Michelle McIlveen |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Harry Harvey |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Mike Nesbitt*  |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Nick Mathison |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Upper Bann
| John O'Dowd |  | Sinn Féin
Jonathan Buckley |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Diane Dodds |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Doug Beattie |  | Ulster Unionist Party
Eóin Tennyson |  | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
West Tyrone
| Nicola Brogan |  | Sinn Féin
Daniel McCrossan |  | Social Democratic and Labour Party
Tom Buchanan |  | Democratic Unionist Party
Maolíosa McHugh |  | Sinn Féin
Declan McAleer |  | Sinn Féin

* Party Leader in Stormont

† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA

‡ Changed affiliation during the term

## Changes since the election

[edit]

### † Co-options

[edit]

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]
27 September 2024  | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |  | UUP | Tom Elliott | Diana Armstrong | Tom Elliott was given a peerage in the 2024 Dissolution Honours.[10]
9 February 2025  | Newry and Armagh |  | Sinn Féin | Conor Murphy | Aoife Finnegan | Conor Murphy was elected to Seanad Éireann at the 2025 Seanad election.[11]

### ‡ Changes in affiliation

[edit]

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.[12]
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.[13]
20 August 2024  | Newry and Armagh | Justin McNulty |  | Ind. Nationalist |  | SDLP | Whip restored.[14]

## Notes

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Stormont: Michelle O'Neill set to become first nationalist first minister". BBC News. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
2. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - Lagan Valley Constituency".
3. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - North Antrim Constituency".
4. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - East Antrim Constituency".
5. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - South Down Constituency".
6. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - Lagan Valley constituency".
7. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - Lagan Valley constituency".
8. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - North Down constituency".
9. ^ "Declaration of Return of new MLA - North Antrim constituency".
10. ^ "Diana Armstrong: UUP politician is New Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA". BBC News. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
11. ^ "Conor Murphy quits Stormont after being elected to the Seanad". BBC News. 3 February 2025.
12. ^ "Stormont: Michelle O'Neill set to become first nationalist first minister". BBC News. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
13. ^ "Justin McNulty: SDLP suspend MLA who left Stormont for GAA game". BBC News. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
14. ^ "Justin McNulty has SDLP whip restored". RTÉ News. 20 August 2024.

* v
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Elected representatives in Northern Ireland

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since 1998|

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since 1922|

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* v
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Northern Ireland Assembly

Assembly|

* Speaker
* Assembly Commission
* Acts
* Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
* Parliament Buildings
* Commissioner for Standards at the Northern Ireland Assembly
* Clerk of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Committees|

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

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
* People Before Profit
* Sinn Féin
* Social Democratic and Labour
* Traditional Unionist Voice
* Ulster Unionist

Elections|

* 1998
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2017
* 2022
* Next

Members|

* 1st Assembly (1998–03)
* 2nd Assembly (2006–07)
* 3rd Assembly (2007–11)
* 4th Assembly (2011–16)
* 5th Assembly (2016–17)
* 6th Assembly (2017–22)
* 7th Assembly (2022)

Procedure|

* Cross-community vote

See also|

* Sunningdale Agreement
* Anglo-Irish Agreement
* Good Friday Agreement
* St Andrews Agreement
* Hillsborough Castle Agreement
* Stormont House Agreement
* New Decade, New Approach

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