Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly

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The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly is the presiding officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly, elected on a cross-community vote by the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Three Deputy Speakers are elected to help fulfil the role.

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.

Contents 1 History 2 Election 3 Speakers 4 Deputy Speakers 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] Election

During the first meeting of a new assembly a Speaker is elected. If a speaker is seeking re-election then the eldest 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.

[edit] Speakers

Lord Alderdice

Eileen Bell

Willie Hay

	Speaker	Party on taking office	Took office	Left office
	Lord Alderdice	Alliance	1 July 1998	29 February 2004
	(position vacant)		1 March 2004	7 May 2007
	Eileen Bell	Alliance	8 May 2007	8 May 2007
	William Hay	Democratic Unionist	8 May 2007

[edit] Deputy Speakers

	Deputy Speaker	Party	Speaker	Took office	Left office
	Sir John Gorman	Ulster Unionist	Alderdice	31 January 2000	19 February 2002
	Donovan McClelland	Social Democratic and Labour	Alderdice	31 January 2000	7 May 2007
	Jane Morrice	NI Women's Coalition	Alderdice	31 January 2000	7 May 2007
	Jim Wilson	Ulster Unionist	Alderdice	25 February 2002	7 May 2007
	Francie Molloy	Sinn Féin	Hay	8 May 2007
	David McClarty	Ulster Unionist	Hay	8 May 2007
	John Dallat	Social Democratic and Labour	Hay	8 May 2007

[edit] See also

• Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
• Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
• Speaker of the British House of Commons
• Lord Speaker

[edit] External links

• Office of the Speaker Home Page

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