ROY BEGGS MLA (UUP)

Roy Beggs was educated at Larne Grammar moving on to study at Queen's University Belfast where he obtained a degree in Industrial Engineering. Before entering the 1998-2003 Assembly, he was employed as Technical Manager at Simms and Young Ltd from 1993 to 1998 and prior to that as Production Manager at Weston Engineering. He was Deputy Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee and a member of the Committee of the Centre in the 1998-2003 Assembly. His interests include further and higher education, finance, training and employment. Roy has been an MLA for Antrim East since 1998 and was re-elected in 2007 on the twelfth count ahead of fellow UUP MLA Ken Robinson. Roy is Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and member of the Finance and Personnel Committee in the Assembly. He is also Party Spokesperson on Finance and Personnel and Children's Issues.

ALASTAIR ROSS MLA (DUP)

Born in Belfast in March 1981, Alastair replaced former MLA for Antrim East George Dawson who died on 7 May 2007.  Alastair has worked as a Parliamentary Researcher for Sammy Wilson MP MLA, having previously gained experience in DUP Headquarters as a Press Officer.  He was educated at Friends' School Lisburn, before going on to graduate with an MA in Politics from the University of Dundee, Scotland.  He also has a postgraduate degree in Irish Politics from Queens University Belfast.  Alastair is the youngest member of the DUP MLA team. Ross is a member of the Employment and Learning Committee, the Environment Committee and the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

DAVID HILDITCH MLA (DUP)

David Hilditch was born in 1963 and educated at Carrick Grammar School and East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education. He is married with two sons. He previously worked in the construction industry and for the Royal Mail between 1987 and 1998. He is a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council, serving as Mayor from 1997-1998 and was elected again in 2007. Hilditch is also a member of the Orange Order.  He was one of the top questioners in the 1998-2003 Assembly and successfully gained re-election in 2007 although a fall in his  share of first preference votes meant he was elected as the third DUP representative in the constituency. David is Deputy Chair of the Social Development Committee and a member of Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Standards and Privileges in the Assembly.

SEAN NEESON MLA (ALL)

Sean Neeson was born in 1946. He attended St. Malachy's College, and Queen's University Belfast. He continued in education circles, working as a teacher. Neeson is former leader of the Alliance Party, and was replaced by David Ford in October 2001.   A member of Carrickfergus Borough Council since 1977, he served as Deputy Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee in the 1998-2003 Assembly.  Sean is a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe and is Party Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Investment and European issues.  Sean has been an MLA since 1998 and in 2007 saw his share of the vote rise slightly from a dip in 2003. Sean is a member of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee and the Committee on Procedures in the Assembly.

KEN ROBINSON MLA (UUP)

Ken Robinson was born in 1942 and is married with three sons. He was educated at Ballyclare High School, Queen's University Belfast and Stranmillis College. Before entering politics, he was Head of Cavehill Primary School. Elected to Newtownabbey Borough Council in 1985, he has served as both Mayor and Deputy-Mayor, and was Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee (1995-1998). His political interests include education, transport, economic development and the European Union. Having served as a UUP MLA since 1998, Ken was successfully re-elected in the 2007 Assembly Election although he had to wait until the thirteenth and final count, holding on by 144 votes from the SDLP’s Danny O’Connor. Robinson is a member of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee, the Education Committee and the Committee on Procedures in the Assembly.

SAMMY WILSON MP MLA (DUP)

Sammy Wilson was born in April 1953, was educated at Methodist College, Belfast and graduated from Queen's University with a degree in Economics and Politics. A teacher by profession (he taught economics at Grosvenor Grammar School) Wilson joined the DUP and was soon labelled "Red Sammy" because of his strong interest in socio-economic issues.  The 2003 Assembly election saw him move from his former East Belfast seat to head the DUP team in Antrim East.  Sammy became MP for Antrim East in 2005 when he achieved almost 50 per cent of the vote and defeated the UUP incumbent Roy Beggs Snr.  In 2007 he topped the poll in the Assembly Election and was elected on the first count. Sammy is Party Spokesperson on Education and Skills and the Chair of the Education Committee in the Assembly.

Back to NI MPs>>