# 1st Northern Ireland Assembly

This is a list of the 108 members of the first Northern Ireland Assembly, the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland established by the Good Friday Agreement. Members (fully Members of the Legislative Assembly, MLAs) elected in June 1998 are listed, as well as those subsequently co-opted to replace those who had resigned or deceased. MLAs are grouped by party, and changes in party affiliation are noted.

## Party strengths

| Party | Party | Designation | Jun 1998 election | Oct 2002 end |
| ● | Ulster Unionist Party | Unionist | 28 | 27 |
| ● | Social Democratic and Labour Party | Nationalist | 24 | 23 |
| ● | Democratic Unionist Party | Unionist | 20 | 20 |
| ● | Sinn Féin | Nationalist | 18 | 18 |
| | Alliance Party | Other | 6 | 5 |
| | UK Unionist Party | Unionist | 5 | 1 |
| | Progressive Unionist Party | Unionist | 2 | 2 |
| | Northern Ireland Women's Coalition | Other | 2 | 2 |
| | United Unionist Coalition | Unionist | - | 3 |
| | Northern Ireland Unionist Party | Unionist | - | 3 |
| | Independent | Nationalist | 0 | 1 |
| | Independent | Unionist | 3 | 2 |
| | Speaker | None | 0 | 1 |
| Totals by designation | Totals by designation | Unionist | 58 | 58 |
| Totals by designation | Totals by designation | Nationalist | 42 | 42 |
| Totals by designation | Totals by designation | Other | 8 | 5 |
| Totals by designation | Totals by designation | None | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 108 | 108 |
| ● = Northern Ireland Executive |||||

### Graphical representation

* At election, 25 Jun 1998
* 1 Jul to 21 Sep 1998
* 18 Oct 2003 to end
This is not the official seating plan.

## MLAs by party

This is a list of MLAs elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election, sorted by party.
| Party | Name | Constituency |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Ian Adamson | Belfast East |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Billy Armstrong | Mid Ulster |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Roy Beggs, Jr. | East Antrim |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Billy Bell | Lagan Valley |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Esmond Birnie | South Belfast |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Fred Cobain | Belfast North |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Robert Coulter | North Antrim |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Joan Carson | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Ivan Davis | Lagan Valley |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Reg Empey | Belfast East |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Sam Foster | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | John Gorman | North Down |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Tom Hamilton † | Strangford |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Derek Hussey | West Tyrone |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Danny Kennedy | Newry and Armagh |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | James Leslie | North Antrim |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | David McClarty | East Londonderry |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Alan McFarland | North Down |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Michael McGimpsey | Belfast South |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Dermot Nesbitt | South Down |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Duncan Shipley-Dalton | South Antrim |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Ken Robinson | East Antrim |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | George Savage | Upper Bann |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | John Taylor | Strangford |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | David Trimble | Upper Bann |
| Ulster Unionist Party (26) | Jim Wilson | South Antrim |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Alex Attwood | Belfast West |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | P. J. Bradley | South Down |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Joe Byrne | West Tyrone |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Michael Coyle † | East Londonderry |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | John Dallat | East Londonderry |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Mark Durkan | Foyle |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Sean Farren | North Antrim |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | John Fee | Newry and Armagh |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Tommy Gallagher | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Carmel Hanna | Belfast South |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Denis Haughey | Mid Ulster |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Joe Hendron | Belfast West |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Patricia Lewsley | Lagan Valley |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Alban Maginness | Belfast North |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Seamus Mallon | Newry and Armagh |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Donovan McClelland | South Antrim |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Alasdair McDonnell | Belfast South |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Eddie McGrady | South Down |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Eugene McMenamin | West Tyrone |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Danny O'Connor | East Antrim |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Eamon O'Neill | South Down |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | Bríd Rodgers | Upper Bann |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (23) | John Tierney | Foyle |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Paul Berry | Newry and Armagh |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Gregory Campbell | East Londonderry |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Mervyn Carrick | Upper Bann |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Wilson Clyde | South Antrim |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Nigel Dodds | Belfast North |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Oliver Gibson | West Tyrone |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | William Hay | Foyle |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | David Hilditch | East Antrim |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | William McCrea | Mid Ulster |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Maurice Morrow | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Ian Paisley | North Antrim |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Ian Paisley Jr. | North Antrim |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Edwin Poots | Lagan Valley |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Iris Robinson | Strangford |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Mark Robinson | Belfast South |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Peter Robinson | Belfast East |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Jim Shannon | Strangford |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Denis Watson ‡ | Upper Bann |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Peter Weir ‡ | North Down |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Jim Wells | South Down |
| Democratic Unionist Party (21) | Sammy Wilson | Belfast East |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Gerry Adams | Belfast West |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Bairbre de Brún | Belfast West |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Pat Doherty | West Tyrone |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Michelle Gildernew | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Gerry Kelly | Belfast North |
| Sinn Féin (18) | John Kelly | Mid Ulster |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Alex Maskey | Belfast West |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Barry McElduff | West Tyrone |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Martin McGuinness | Mid Ulster |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Gerry McHugh | Fermanagh and South Tyrone |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Mitchel McLaughlin | Foyle |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Pat McNamee | Newry and Armagh |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Francie Molloy | Mid Ulster |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Conor Murphy | Newry and Armagh |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Mick Murphy | South Down |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Mary Nelis | Foyle |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Dara O'Hagan | Upper Bann |
| Sinn Féin (18) | Sue Ramsey | Belfast West |
| Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (5) | Eileen Bell | North Down |
| Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (5) | Seamus Close | Lagan Valley |
| Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (5) | David Ford | South Antrim |
| Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (5) | Kieran McCarthy | Strangford |
| Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (5) | Seán Neeson | East Antrim |
| Progressive Unionist Party (2) | David Ervine | Belfast East |
| Progressive Unionist Party (2) | Billy Hutchinson | Belfast North |
| Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (2) | Monica McWilliams | Belfast South |
| Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (2) | Jane Morrice | North Down |
| UK Unionist Party (2) | Pauline Armitage ‡ | East Londonderry |
| UK Unionist Party (2) | Robert McCartney | North Down |
| Northern Ireland Unionist Party (3) | Norman Boyd ‡ | South Antrim |
| Northern Ireland Unionist Party (3) | Patrick Roche ‡ | Lagan Valley |
| Northern Ireland Unionist Party (3) | Cedric Wilson ‡ | Strangford |
| United Unionist Coalition (2) | Fraser Agnew ‡ | Belfast North |
| United Unionist Coalition (2) | Boyd Douglas ‡ | East Londonderry |
| Independent Unionist (2) | Roger Hutchinson ‡ | East Antrim |
| Independent Unionist (2) | Gardiner Kane ‡ | North Antrim |
| Independent Nationalist (1) | Annie Courtney †‡ | Foyle |
| Speaker (1) | John Alderdice ‡ | Belfast East |
† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA
‡ Changed affiliation during the term

## MLAs by constituency

The list is given in alphabetical order by constituency.
Members of the 1st Northern Ireland Assembly :
| Constituency | Name | Party |
| Belfast East | Ian Adamson | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Belfast East | John Alderdice ‡ | Speaker |
| Belfast East | Reg Empey | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Belfast East | David Ervine | Progressive Unionist Party |
| Belfast East | Peter Robinson | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Belfast East | Sammy Wilson | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Belfast North | Fraser Agnew ‡ | United Unionist Coalition |
| Belfast North | Fred Cobain | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Belfast North | Nigel Dodds | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Belfast North | Billy Hutchinson | Progressive Unionist Party |
| Belfast North | Gerry Kelly | Sinn Féin |
| Belfast North | Alban Maginness | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Belfast South | Esmond Birnie | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Belfast South | Carmel Hanna | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Belfast South | Alasdair McDonnell | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Belfast South | Michael McGimpsey | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Belfast South | Monica McWilliams | Northern Ireland Women's Coalition |
| Belfast South | Mark Robinson | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Belfast West | Gerry Adams | Sinn Féin |
| Belfast West | Alex Attwood | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Belfast West | Bairbre de Brún | Sinn Féin |
| Belfast West | Joe Hendron | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Belfast West | Alex Maskey | Sinn Féin |
| Belfast West | Sue Ramsey | Sinn Féin |
| East Antrim | Roy Beggs, Jr. | Ulster Unionist Party |
| East Antrim | Sean Neeson | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland |
| East Antrim | David Hilditch | Democratic Unionist Party |
| East Antrim | Roger Hutchinson ‡ | Independent Unionist |
| East Antrim | Danny O'Connor | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| East Antrim | Ken Robinson | Ulster Unionist Party |
| East Londonderry | Pauline Armitage ‡ | United Kingdom Unionist Party |
| East Londonderry | Gregory Campbell | Democratic Unionist Party |
| East Londonderry | Michael Coyle † | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| East Londonderry | John Dallat | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| East Londonderry | Boyd Douglas ‡ | United Unionist Coalition |
| East Londonderry | David McClarty | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | Joan Carson | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | Sam Foster | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | Tommy Gallagher | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | Michelle Gildernew | Sinn Féin |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | Gerry McHugh | Sinn Féin |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | Maurice Morrow | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Foyle | Annie Courtney †‡ | Independent Nationalist |
| Foyle | Mark Durkan | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Foyle | William Hay | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Foyle | Mitchel McLaughlin | Sinn Féín |
| Foyle | Mary Nelis | Sinn Féín |
| Foyle | John Tierney | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Lagan Valley | Billy Bell | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Lagan Valley | Seamus Close | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland |
| Lagan Valley | Ivan Davis | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Lagan Valley | Patricia Lewsley | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Lagan Valley | Edwin Poots | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Lagan Valley | Patrick Roche ‡ | Northern Ireland Unionist Party |
| Mid Ulster | Billy Armstrong | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Mid Ulster | Denis Haughey | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Mid Ulster | John Kelly | Sinn Féin |
| Mid Ulster | William McCrea | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Mid Ulster | Martin McGuinness | Sinn Féin |
| Mid Ulster | Francie Molloy | Sinn Féin |
| Newry and Armagh | Paul Berry | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Newry and Armagh | John Fee | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Newry and Armagh | Danny Kennedy | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Newry and Armagh | Pat McNamee | Sinn Féin |
| Newry and Armagh | Conor Murphy | Sinn Féin |
| Newry and Armagh | Seamus Mallon | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| North Antrim | Robert Coulter | Ulster Unionist Party |
| North Antrim | Sean Farren | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| North Antrim | Gardiner Kane ‡ | Independent Unionist |
| North Antrim | James Leslie | Ulster Unionist Party |
| North Antrim | Ian Paisley | Democratic Unionist Party |
| North Antrim | Ian Paisley Jr | Democratic Unionist Party |
| North Down | Eileen Bell | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland |
| North Down | John Gorman | Ulster Unionist Party |
| North Down | Robert McCartney | United Kingdom Unionist Party |
| North Down | Alan McFarland | Ulster Unionist Party |
| North Down | Jane Morrice | Northern Ireland Women's Coalition |
| North Down | Peter Weir ‡ | Democratic Unionist Party |
| South Antrim | Norman Boyd ‡ | Northern Ireland Unionist Party |
| South Antrim | Wilson Clyde | Democratic Unionist Party |
| South Antrim | David Ford | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland |
| South Antrim | Donovan McClelland | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| South Antrim | Duncan Shipley-Dalton | Ulster Unionist Party |
| South Antrim | Jim Wilson | Ulster Unionist Party |
| South Down | P. J. Bradley | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| South Down | Dermot Nesbitt | Ulster Unionist Party |
| South Down | Eddie McGrady | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| South Down | Mick Murphy | Sinn Féin |
| South Down | Eamon O'Neill | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| South Down | Jim Wells | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Strangford | Tom Hamilton † | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Strangford | Kieran McCarthy | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland |
| Strangford | Iris Robinson | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Strangford | Jim Shannon | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Strangford | John Taylor | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Strangford | Cedric Wilson ‡ | Northern Ireland Unionist Party |
| Upper Bann | Mervyn Carrick | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Upper Bann | Dara O'Hagan | Sinn Féin |
| Upper Bann | Bríd Rodgers | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Upper Bann | George Savage | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Upper Bann | David Trimble | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Upper Bann | Denis Watson ‡ | Democratic Unionist Party |
| West Tyrone | Joe Byrne | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| West Tyrone | Pat Doherty | Sinn Féin |
| West Tyrone | Oliver Gibson | Democratic Unionist Party |
| West Tyrone | Derek Hussey | Ulster Unionist Party |
| West Tyrone | Barry McElduff | Sinn Féin |
| West Tyrone | Eugene McMenamin | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA ‡ Changed affiliation during the term

## Changes since the election
### † Co-options

| Date co-opted | Constituency | Party | Outgoing | Co-optee | Reason |
| 11 December 2000 | Foyle | SDLP | John Hume | Annie Courtney | Resignation of John Hume. |
| 22 January 2001 | Strangford | UUP | Tom Benson | Tom Hamilton | Death of Tom Benson. |
| 9 September 2002 | East Londonderry | SDLP | Arthur Doherty | Michael Coyle | Death of Arthur Doherty. |

### ‡ Changes in affiliation

| Date | Constituency | Name | Previous affiliation | New affiliation | Circumstance |
| 21 September 1998 | Belfast North | Fraser Agnew | Ind. Unionist | United Unionist Coalition | Fraser Agnew established a new political party to access facilities provided to Assembly parties. |
| 21 September 1998 | East Londonderry | Boyd Douglas | Ind. Unionist | United Unionist Coalition | Boyd Douglas established a new political party to access facilities provided to Assembly parties. |
| 21 September 1998 | Upper Bann | Denis Watson | Ind. Unionist | United Unionist Coalition | Denis Watson established a new political party to access facilities provided to Assembly parties. |
| 4 January 1999 | Strangford | Cedric Wilson | UK Unionist | Ind. Unionist | Cedric Wilson left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive. |
| 4 January 1999 | South Antrim | Norman Boyd | UK Unionist | Ind. Unionist | Norman Boyd left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive. |
| 4 January 1999 | Lagan Valley | Patrick Roche | UK Unionist | Ind. Unionist | Patrick Roche left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive. |
| 4 January 1999 | East Antrim | Roger Hutchinson | UK Unionist | Ind. Unionist | Roger Hutchinson left the UKUP in response to proposals from Robert McCartney to resign their Assembly seats in opposition to Sinn Féin participating in the Executive. |
| 24 March 1999 | Strangford | Cedric Wilson | Ind. Unionist | NI Unionist | Cedric Wilson established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP. |
| 24 March 1999 | South Antrim | Norman Boyd | Ind. Unionist | NI Unionist | Norman Boyd established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP. |
| 24 March 1999 | Lagan Valley | Patrick Roche | Ind. Unionist | NI Unionist | Patrick Roche established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP. |
| 24 March 1999 | East Antrim | Roger Hutchinson | Ind. Unionist | NI Unionist | Roger Hutchinson established the NIUP having recently left the UKUP. |
| 1 December 1999 | East Antrim | Roger Hutchinson | NI Unionist | Ind. Unionist | Roger Hutchinson expelled from the NIUP for sitting on Assembly committees against party policy. |
| 5 July 2000 | Upper Bann | Denis Watson | United Unionist Coalition | DUP | Denis Watson joined the DUP. |
| 2 November 2001 | East Londonderry | Pauline Armitage | UUP | Ind. Unionist | Pauline Armitage suspended from the UUP for voting against the party whip. |
| 9 November 2001 | North Down | Peter Weir | UUP | Ind. Unionist | Peter Weir expelled from the UUP for refusing to support the re-nomination of David Trimble as First Minister. |
| 1 April 2002 | East Antrim | Roger Hutchinson | Ind. Unionist | DUP | Roger Hutchinson joined the DUP. |
| 30 April 2002 | North Down | Peter Weir | Ind. Unionist | DUP | Peter Weir joined the DUP. |
| 11 November 2002 | North Antrim | Gardiner Kane | DUP | Ind. Unionist | Gardiner Kane resigned from the DUP. |
| 1 April 2003 | Foyle | Annie Courtney | SDLP | Ind. Nationalist | Annie Courtney resigned from the SDLP after not being re-selected by the party as a candidate for the 2003 Assembly election. |
| 12 June 2003 | East Londonderry | Pauline Armitage | Ind. Unionist | UK Unionist | Pauline Armitage resigned her membership of UUP and joined the UKUP. |
| 18 October 2003 | East Antrim | Roger Hutchinson | DUP | Ind. Unionist | Roger Hutchinson resigned from the DUP to contest the 2003 Assembly election as an independent unionist. |