Posts tagged ‘Political Platform’

:Kieran McCarthy MLA

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy is Alliance’s Chief Whip and spokesman on health, and culture, arts and leisure. An Ards Borough councillor for the Peninsula ward since 1985, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for the constituency in 1996 and has served in the Assembly from 1998. Kieran is married with two sons and two daughters. What path did you take into politics? I joined a local community association in Kircubbin in 1973 to try and improve facilities and the appearance of the village. At the time Lord Dunleath was an Alliance councillor. He had an advice office in Kircubbin...[full story]

:Peter Weir MLA

Friday, July 9th, 2010
One of the few to take the route, Peter Weir was elected as an MLA before he sat in the council chamber. He was returned for the UUP to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996 and elected to Stormont in 1998, but left to join the DUP in 2002. Peter has served on North Down Borough Council for Ballyholme and Groomsport since 2005. A former barrister, the Bangor man also sits on the Employment and Learning and Environment Committees. How did you get started in politics? I had an interest in politics from a young age, and although there were no direct family connections with any political party,...[full story]

:Pat Ramsey MLA

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
A member of Derry City Council for 18 years, Pat was first elected to the Assembly in 2003. He served as Mayor for the Maiden City in 1999-2000. A member of the Assembly Employment and Learning Committee, he is also the SDLP’s spokesman on the subject. How did you get started in politics? In the late 1970s and 80s I was involved with youth and community work in Derry – in the Bogside and Creggan areas in particular. It was a time of very high unemployment, poor housing and violent conflict and these areas were intensely militarised. Many young people were convinced by the arguments...[full story]

:Billy Armstrong MLA

Friday, May 14th, 2010
Farmer and UUP MLA Billy Armstrong first joined the party in 1965. He was elected to the Assembly for Mid Ulster in 1998 and currently sits on the Business and Social Development committees. He is also deputy whip. Billy is married with four children. How did you become interested in politics? I have always had an interest in politics and was first elected into office within the Mid Ulster Ulster Unionist Constituency Association in 1995 as treasurer. This co-incided with significant boundary changes for the area. A dairy farmer all my life, I was always very active within the community...[full story]

:Sue Ramsey MLA

Monday, March 1st, 2010
Sue Ramsey is one of Sinn Féin’s five West Belfast MLAs. Her political career started on Lisburn Borough Council as a councillor representing Dunmurry Cross in 1997, a seat she held until standing down in 2005. Elected to Stormont for West Belfast in 1998, she lost her seat in the 2003 election but regained it by cooption the next year. Previously a chef, Sue chairs the Employment and Learning Committee and also sits on the Assembly’s Health Committee. She is the party’s spokeswoman on employment and learning, and also children and young people. How did you become interested in...[full story]