List of members of the 2nd Northern Ireland Assembly

The Northern Ireland Assembly elected in November 2003 never met as such: Northern Ireland's devolved government and representative institutions had been suspended with the re-introduction of direct rule by the United Kingdom government on 14 October 2002. However, the persons (Members of the Legislative Assembly, MLAs) elected to the Assembly at the 2003 assembly election were called together in a non-legislative capacity, initially under the Northern Ireland Act 2006^[1] and then under the St Andrews Agreement.^[2] These bodies failed to form a government before the 2007 election.

The following is a list of the members of that second Assembly,^[3] including members co-opted after the election to replace those who had resigned or died, and changes in party affiliation.

Party strengths[]

Notes

Graphical representation[]

• 

  At election, 26 Nov 2003 (Suspended Northern Ireland Assembly)

• 

  At election, 26 Nov 2003 (Suspended Northern Ireland Assembly)

• 

  10 Apr to 25 Sep 2006 (Suspended Northern Ireland Assembly and Assembly est. under the Northern Ireland Act 2006),

• 

  25 Sep 2006 to 15 Jan 2007 (Suspended Northern Ireland Assembly and Transitional Assembly)

• 

  2 Feb 2007 to end (Suspended Northern Ireland Assembly)

Members elected[]

Changes[]

• Jeffrey Donaldson, Norah Beare and Arlene Foster were elected as members of the UUP but resigned from the party on 18 December 2003 and joined the DUP on 5 January 2004.
• Mary Nelis of Sinn Féin resigned from the Assembly and was replaced by Raymond McCartney (also Sinn Féin) with effect from 15 July 2004.^[4]
• Bairbre de Brún of Sinn Féin resigned from the Assembly and was replaced by Sue Ramsey (also Sinn Féin) with effect from 29 November 2004.^[5]
• Paul Berry was suspended from the DUP following an internal disciplinary panel meeting and media coverage of his private life on 4 July 2005.
• Francie Molloy was suspended from Sinn Féin on 23 November 2005 following disagreements about reforms of local government.^[6]
• Francie Molloy was subsequently readmitted to Sinn Féin.^{[citation needed]}
• Paul Berry resigned outright from the DUP following legal challenges on 10 February 2006.^[7]
• Eileen Bell, Alliance, was appointed Speaker of the Assembly on 10 April 2006 for the first session on 15 May.^[8]
• David Ervine announced on 13 May 2006 that whilst remaining leader of the PUP, he would join with the UUP Assembly Members in forming the "Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group".^[9] The Presiding Officer (Speaker) of the Assembly, Eileen Bell, MLA indicated at the first meeting of the 'shadow' Assembly (15 May 2006) that she would take legal advice before ruling on whether the overall group qualified as a party recognised in the Assembly.^[10] On 11 September 2006 Bell announced that the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group was not a Political Party within the meaning of the UK legislation governing Party Politics and so the alliance of Ervine and the UUP is not recognised as a grouping within the assembly for the purposes of D'Hondt.
• Michael Ferguson, Sinn Féin, died on 25 September 2006.^[11] The vacancy remained unfilled on the dissolution of the Assembly.
• Patricia Lewsley, Social Democratic and Labour Party, resigned to take up the position of Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People. The vacancy was filled by Marietta Farrell.
• David Ervine, the sole Progressive Unionist Party MLA, died on 8 January 2007. The vacancy was filled by Dawn Purvis.
• Geraldine Dougan resigned from Sinn Féin on 15 January 2007.
• Davy Hyland announced his resignation from Sinn Féin on 2 February 2007.

See also[]

• Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 1998
• Members of the Northern Ireland Forum elected in 1996
• Northern Ireland MPs
• 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election

References[]