# Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Irish: Ceann Comhairle) (originally having the title of Presiding Officer) is the presiding officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly, elected on a cross-community vote by the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. A principal deputy speaker and two deputy speakers are elected to help fulfil the role. The office of Speaker is currently held (since February 2024) by the MLA for Belfast South Edwin Poots of the Democratic Unionist Party.
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.

## 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.
In May 2011 the new position of Principal Deputy Speaker was created. Sinn Féin deputy speaker Francie Molloy was subsequently elected to the new position in June 2011.

## Election

During the first meeting of a new Assembly a speaker is elected. The oldest (by age) 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.

## Speakers

| | Name | Entered office | Left office | Party | Constituency |
| 1. | John Alderdice, Baron Alderdice | 1 July 1998 | 29 February 2004 | Alliance | Belfast East |
| 2. | Eileen Bell | 8 May 2007 | 8 May 2007 | Alliance | North Down |
| 3. | William Hay | 8 May 2007 | 13 October 2014 | DUP | Foyle |
| 4. | Mitchel McLaughlin | 12 January 2015 | 12 May 2016 | Sinn Féin | South Antrim |
| 5. | Robin Newton | 12 May 2016 | 11 January 2020 | DUP | Belfast East |
| 6. | Alex Maskey | 11 January 2020 | 3 February 2024 | Sinn Féin | Belfast West |
| 7. | Edwin Poots | 3 February 2024 | Incumbent | DUP | Belfast South |

## Deputy speakers

| Deputy Speaker (until 28 June 2011) Principal Deputy Speaker (since 28 June 2011) | Deputy Speaker (until 28 June 2011) Principal Deputy Speaker (since 28 June 2011) | Deputy Speaker (until 28 June 2011) Principal Deputy Speaker (since 28 June 2011) | Deputy Speaker | Deputy Speaker | Deputy Speaker | Deputy Speaker | Deputy Speaker | Deputy Speaker |
| Name | Party | Constituency | Name | Party | Constituency | Name | Party | Constituency |
| Jane Morrice 31 January 2000 – 7 May 2007 | NIWC | North Down | Sir John Gorman 31 January 2000 – 19 February 2002 | UUP | North Down | Donovan McClelland 31 January 2000 – 7 May 2007 | SDLP | South Antrim |
| Jane Morrice 31 January 2000 – 7 May 2007 | NIWC | North Down | Jim Wilson 25 February 2002 – 7 May 2007 | UUP | South Antrim | Donovan McClelland 31 January 2000 – 7 May 2007 | SDLP | South Antrim |
| Francie Molloy 8 May 2007 – 15 April 2013 | Sinn Féin | Mid Ulster | David McClarty 8 May 2007 – 11 May 2011 | UUP | East Londonderry | John Dallat 8 May 2007 – 12 May 2016 | SDLP | East Londonderry |
| Francie Molloy 8 May 2007 – 15 April 2013 | Sinn Féin | Mid Ulster | Roy Beggs Jr 12 May 2011 – 12 May 2016 | UUP | East Antrim | John Dallat 8 May 2007 – 12 May 2016 | SDLP | East Londonderry |
| Mitchel McLaughlin 15 April 2013 – 12 January 2015 | Sinn Féin | South Antrim | Roy Beggs Jr 12 May 2011 – 12 May 2016 | UUP | East Antrim | John Dallat 8 May 2007 – 12 May 2016 | SDLP | East Londonderry |
| Robin Newton 20 January 2015 – 12 May 2016 | DUP | Belfast East | Roy Beggs Jr 12 May 2011 – 12 May 2016 | UUP | East Antrim | John Dallat 8 May 2007 – 12 May 2016 | SDLP | East Londonderry |
| Caitríona Ruane 12 May 2016 – 19 Oct 2017 | Sinn Féin | South Down | Danny Kennedy 12 May 2016 – 29 Jun 2017 | UUP | Newry and Armagh | Patsy McGlone 12 May 2016 – 3 February 2024 | SDLP | Mid Ulster |
| Christopher Stalford 14 January 2020 – 20 February 2022 | DUP | Belfast South | Roy Beggs Jr 11 January 2020 – 31 May 2022 | UUP | East Antrim | Patsy McGlone 12 May 2016 – 3 February 2024 | SDLP | Mid Ulster |
| Carál Ní Chuilín 6 February 2024 – incumbent | Sinn Féin | Belfast North | John Blair 3 February 2024 – incumbent | Alliance | South Antrim | Steve Aiken 3 February 2024 – incumbent | UUP | South Antrim |

## Current speaker and deputy speakers

| Position | Current holder | Term started | Political party | Constituency |
| Speaker | Edwin Poots | 3 February 2024 | DUP | Belfast South |
| Principal Deputy Speaker | Carál Ní Chuilín | 6 February 2024 | Sinn Féin | Belfast North |
| Deputy Speaker | John Blair | 3 February 2024 | Alliance | South Antrim |
| Deputy Speaker | Steve Aiken | 3 February 2024 | UUP | South Antrim |