The fourth Northern Ireland Assembly was the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland following the 2011 assembly election on 5 May 2011. This iteration of the elected Assembly convened for the first time on 12 May 2011 in Parliament Buildings in Stormont, and ran for a full term.
The election saw 18 Assembly constituencies return six Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) each. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), led by Peter Robinson, remained the largest unionist party and the largest overall. Sinn Féin, led by Gerry Adams, remained the largest Irish nationalist party and the second largest overall. As per the Belfast Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement, a power-sharing coalition was then formed with the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. William Hay was elected as Speaker in the first sitting of the assembly. Following Hay's retirement, Mitchel McLaughlin was elected as the first nationalist Speaker in October 2014.
The UUP, led by Tom Elliott, and the SDLP, led by Margaret Ritchie, secured fewer seats than in the previous assembly. The Alliance Party, led by David Ford, emerged from the election with an increased mandate after securing an additional seat. The four main parties which sat outside of the Northern Ireland Executive and thereby served unofficially in opposition were the Green Party in Northern Ireland, the Traditional Unionist Voice, NI21 and the United Kingdom Independence Party.
More than three quarters of the members of the 3rd Northern Ireland Assembly were re-elected to the 4th: 83 MLAs had been members for all or part of the assembly's previous term. This included 11 individuals who became MLAs in the previous assembly by virtue of co-option. Twenty of the MLAs elected in 2011 were women. 25 new MLAs were elected to the assembly, 23% of the total.
Party strengths PartyDesignationMay 2011electionJul 2015end●Democratic Unionist PartyUnionist3838●Sinn FéinNationalist2928●Ulster Unionist PartyUnionist1613●Social Democratic and Labour PartyNationalist1414●Alliance Party of Northern IrelandOther88Green Party in Northern IrelandOther11Traditional Unionist VoiceUnionist11IndependentUnionist12NI21Unionist-1UKIPUnionist-1Speaker None01Totals by designationUnionist5656Nationalist4342Other99None01Total 108● = Northern Ireland Executive
Graphical representation
Leadership Speaker: Mitchel McLaughlin (previously Sinn Féin) (from 12 Jan 2015) — William Hay (previously Democratic Unionist Party) (until 13 Oct 2014) Principal Deputy Speaker: Robin Newton (Democratic Unionist Party) Deputy Speaker: John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party) Deputy Speaker: Roy Beggs Jr (Ulster Unionist Party)
Executive First Minister and Leader of Democratic Unionist Party: Peter Robinson Deputy First Minister: Martin McGuinness Assembly Leader of Sinn Féin: Raymond McCartney Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party: Alasdair McDonnell Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland: David Ford
Opposition Leaders of the Ulster Unionist Party: Mike Nesbitt Leader of Green Party in Northern Ireland: Steven Agnew Leader of NI21: Basil McCrea Leader of Traditional Unionist Voice: Jim Allister Assembly Leader of UKIP: David McNarry
MLAs by party This is a list of MLAs elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election, sorted by party.
Not to be confused: Paul Girvan (South Antrim) and Paul Givan (Lagan Valley) are different people, although both were co-opted to replace retiring Democratic Unionist members of the last Assembly. Roy Beggs, Jr. (born 1962) is the son of the Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs (born 1936), a former Assembly member for North Antrim and former MP for East Antrim in the British House of Commons. Similarly Mark H. Durkan (b. 1978) is the nephew of the former SDLP leader Mark Durkan (b. 1960), who left the Assembly after his election in 2010 as MP for Foyle.New Durkan aims for leader's seat , The Belfast Telegraph, 10 October 2010 (retrieved 22 May 2011)
Party NameConstituencyDemocratic Unionist Party (38)Sydney AndersonUpper BannJonathan BellStrangfordPaula BradleyBelfast NorthThomas BuchananWest TyroneGregory CampbellEast LondonderryTrevor ClarkeSouth AntrimJonathan CraigLagan ValleySammy DouglasBelfast EastGordon DunneNorth DownAlex EastonNorth DownArlene FosterFermanagh and South TyronePaul FrewNorth AntrimPaul GirvanSouth AntrimPaul GivanLagan ValleyBrenda HaleLagan ValleySimon HamiltonStrangfordDavid HilditchEast AntrimWilliam HumphreyBelfast NorthWilliam IrwinNewry and ArmaghPam LewisSouth AntrimGordon Lyons †East AntrimNelson McCauslandBelfast NorthIan McCreaMid UlsterDavid McIlveenNorth AntrimMichelle McIlveenStrangfordAdrian McQuillanEast LondonderryGary Middleton ††FoyleMaurice MorrowFermanagh and South TyroneStephen MoutrayUpper BannRobin NewtonBelfast EastEmma Pengelly †Belfast SouthEdwin PootsLagan ValleyGeorge RobinsonEast LondonderryPeter RobinsonBelfast EastAlastair RossEast AntrimMervyn StoreyNorth AntrimPeter WeirNorth DownJim WellsSouth DownSinn Féin (28)Cathal BoylanNewry and ArmaghMichaela BoyleWest TyroneMegan Fearon †Newry and ArmaghPhil FlanaganFermanagh and South TyroneChris Hazzard †South DownGerry KellyBelfast NorthSeán LynchFermanagh and South TyroneAlex Maskey †Belfast WestDeclan McAleer †West TyroneFra McCannBelfast WestJennifer McCannBelfast WestRaymond McCartneyFoyleRosie McCorley †Belfast WestBarry McElduffWest TyroneBronwyn McGahan †Fermanagh and South TyroneMartin McGuinnessMid UlsterDaithí McKayNorth AntrimMaeve McLaughlin †FoyleOliver McMullanEast AntrimIan Milne †Mid UlsterConor Murphy †Newry and ArmaghCarál Ní ChuilínBelfast NorthCathal Ó hOisínEast LondonderryMáirtín Ó Muilleoir †Belfast SouthJohn O'DowdUpper BannMichelle O'NeillMid UlsterCaitríona RuaneSouth DownPat SheehanBelfast WestUlster Unionist Party (13)Andy Allen †Belfast EastRoy Beggs, Jr.East AntrimAdrian Cochrane-Watson †South AntrimLeslie CreeNorth DownJo-Anne DobsonUpper BannSam GardinerUpper BannRoss HusseyWest TyroneDanny KennedyNewry and ArmaghMichael McGimpseyBelfast SouthMike NesbittStrangfordSandra OverendMid UlsterAlastair Patterson ††Fermanagh and South TyroneRobin SwannNorth AntrimSocial Democratic and Labour Party (14)Alex AttwoodBelfast WestDominic BradleyNewry and ArmaghJohn DallatEast LondonderryGerard Diver †FoyleMark H. DurkanFoyleColum EastwoodFoyleClaire Hanna †Belfast SouthDolores KellyUpper BannDaniel McCrossan †West TyronePatsy McGloneMid UlsterKaren McKevittSouth DownFearghal McKinney †Belfast SouthAlban MaginnessBelfast NorthSeán Rogers †South DownAlliance Party of Northern Ireland (8)Judith CochraneBelfast EastStewart DicksonEast AntrimStephen FarryNorth DownDavid FordSouth AntrimAnna LoBelfast SouthTrevor LunnLagan ValleyChris LyttleBelfast EastKieran McCarthyStrangfordGreen Party in Northern Ireland (1)Steven AgnewNorth DownTraditional Unionist Voice (1)Jim AllisterNorth AntrimIndependent (2)John McCallister ‡South DownClaire Sugden †East LondonderryNI21 (1)Basil McCrea ‡Lagan ValleyUKIP (1)David McNarry ‡StrangfordSpeaker (1)Mitchel McLaughlin ‡South Antrim
† 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 4th Northern Ireland AssemblyConstituencyNamePartyBelfast EastAndy Allen †Ulster Unionist Party Judith CochraneAlliance Party of Northern Ireland Sammy DouglasDemocratic Unionist Party Chris LyttleAlliance Party of Northern Ireland Robin NewtonDemocratic Unionist Party Peter RobinsonDemocratic Unionist Party Belfast NorthPaula BradleyDemocratic Unionist Party William HumphreyDemocratic Unionist Party Gerry KellySinn Féin Nelson McCauslandDemocratic Unionist Party Alban MaginnessSocial Democratic and Labour Party Carál Ní ChuilínSinn Féin Belfast SouthClaire Hanna †Social Democratic and Labour Party Anna LoAlliance Party of Northern Ireland Michael McGimpseyUlster Unionist Party Fearghal McKinney †Social Democratic and Labour Party Máirtín Ó Muilleoir †Sinn Féin Emma Pengelly †Democratic Unionist Party Belfast WestAlex AttwoodSocial Democratic and Labour Party Fra McCannSinn Féin Jennifer McCannSinn Féin Alex Maskey †Sinn Féin Paul MaskeySinn Féin Pat SheehanSinn Féin East AntrimRoy Beggs, Jr.Ulster Unionist Party Stewart DicksonAlliance Party of Northern Ireland David HilditchDemocratic Unionist Party Gordon Lyons †Democratic Unionist Party Oliver McMullanSinn Féin Alastair RossDemocratic Unionist Party East LondonderryGregory CampbellDemocratic Unionist Party John DallatSocial Democratic and Labour Party Adrian McQuillanDemocratic Unionist Party Cathal Ó hOisínSinn Féin George RobinsonDemocratic Unionist Party Claire Sugden †Independent Fermanagh and South TyroneTom ElliottUlster Unionist Party Phil FlanaganSinn Féin Arlene FosterDemocratic Unionist Party Bronwyn McGahan †Sinn Féin Seán LynchSinn Féin Maurice MorrowDemocratic Unionist Party FoyleMark H. DurkanSocial Democratic and Labour Party Colum EastwoodSocial Democratic and Labour Party Gary Middleton ††Democratic Unionist Party Raymond McCartneySinn Féín Maeve McLaughlin †Sinn Féín Pat RamseySocial Democratic and Labour Party Lagan ValleyJonathan CraigDemocratic Unionist Party Paul GivanDemocratic Unionist Party Brenda HaleDemocratic Unionist Party Trevor LunnAlliance Party of Northern Ireland Basil McCrea ‡NI21 Edwin PootsDemocratic Unionist Party Mid UlsterIan McCreaDemocratic Unionist Party Patsy McGloneSocial Democratic and Labour Party Martin McGuinnessSinn Féin Ian Milne †Sinn Féin Michelle O'NeillSinn Féin Sandra OverendUlster Unionist Party Newry and ArmaghCathal BoylanSinn Féin Dominic BradleySocial Democratic and Labour Party Megan Fearon †Sinn Féin William IrwinDemocratic Unionist Party Danny KennedyUlster Unionist Party Conor Murphy ††Sinn Féin North AntrimJim AllisterTraditional Unionist Voice Paul FrewDemocratic Unionist Party David McIlveenDemocratic Unionist Party Daithí McKaySinn Féin Mervyn StoreyDemocratic Unionist Party Robin SwannUlster Unionist Party North DownSteven AgnewGreen Party in Northern Ireland Leslie CreeUlster Unionist Party Gordon DunneDemocratic Unionist Party Alex EastonDemocratic Unionist Party Stephen FarryAlliance Party of Northern Ireland Peter WeirDemocratic Unionist PartySouth AntrimTrevor ClarkeDemocratic Unionist Party David FordAlliance Party of Northern Ireland Paul GirvanDemocratic Unionist Party Adrian Cochrane-Watson †Ulster Unionist Party Pam LewisDemocratic Unionist Party Mitchel McLaughlin ‡SpeakerSouth DownChris Hazzard †Sinn Féin John McCallister ‡Independent Karen McKevittSocial Democratic and Labour Party Seán Rogers †Social Democratic and Labour Party Caitríona RuaneSinn Féin Jim WellsDemocratic Unionist PartyStrangfordJonathan BellDemocratic Unionist Party Simon HamiltonDemocratic Unionist Party Kieran McCarthyAlliance Party of Northern Ireland Michelle McIlveenDemocratic Unionist Party David McNarry ‡UKIP Mike NesbittUlster Unionist PartyUpper BannSydney AndersonDemocratic Unionist Party Jo-Anne DobsonUlster Unionist Party Sam GardinerUlster Unionist Party Dolores KellySocial Democratic and Labour Party Stephen MoutrayDemocratic Unionist Party John O'DowdSinn FéinWest TyroneMichaela BoyleSinn Féin Thomas BuchananDemocratic Unionist Party Ross HusseyUlster Unionist Party Declan McAleer †Sinn Féin Daniel McCrossan †Social Democratic and Labour Party Barry McElduffSinn Féin † Co-opted to replace an elected MLA ‡ Changed affiliation during the term
New members elected in May 2011