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Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Irish: Cainteoir Thionól Thuaisceart Éireann
Logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Incumbent Edwin Poots since 3 February 2024
Northern Ireland Assembly Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
Style	Mr. Speaker (Within the house)
Appointer	Northern Ireland Assembly (Elected by)
Term length	No limits imposed
Inaugural holder	Lord Alderdice July 1, 1998
Formation	1998
Salary	£87,000 annually
Website	Office of the Speaker

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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

Deputy speakers

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

See also

• Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
• Llywydd of the Senedd (equivalent position in Wales)
• Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
• Speaker of the British House of Commons
• Lord Speaker
• Ceann Comhairle (equivalent position in the southern Irish Dáil or lower house of parliament)
• Cathaoirleach (equivalent position in the southern Irish Seanad or upper house of parliament)

References

1. Northern Ireland Assembly standing orders make provision for a presiding officer who shall have the title Speaker 1. The Speaker Archived 4 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Seirbhís Oideachais Thionól Thuaisceart Éireann |". education.niassembly.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.)
3. S. 39 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (which provides for a "Presiding Officer")
4. "Francie Molloy is assembly's principal deputy speaker". BBC News Online. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.

External links

• Office of the Speaker

v t e 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

• Speakers of the Northern Ireland Assembly
• Northern Ireland Assembly