SIMON HAMILTON MLA (DUP)

Hamilton was educated at Regent House School and Queen's University in Belfast holding degrees in history/politics and law.  He began his career as an auditor with an accountancy firm in Belfast and has been employed as the DUP's Press Officer since 2003.  He was elected to Ards Borough Council in 2005 and became an MLA in 2007 elected on the 14th count.  Hamilton is Secretary of Strangford DUP Association and Vice-Chair of Newtownards DUP Branch. He is also a Deputy Master of the Loyal Orange Lodge. Simon is a member of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the Finance and Personnel Committee in the Assembly. He is Party Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

KIERAN McCARTHY MLA (ALL)

Kieran McCarthy was born in September 1942 in Newtownards and was educated at Newtownards Technical College. He is married with two sons and two daughters. He is a former draper and was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1990.  He is the Alliance party Spokesperson on Health and Social Services and Culture, Arts and Leisure.  Despite predictions to the contrary, Kieran comfortably held his seat in the 2007 Assembly Election substantially increasing his share of the vote. Kieran is a member of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee and the Business Committee in the Assembly.

MICHELLE MCILVEEN MLA (DUP)

Michelle McIveen was educated at Methodist College Belfast and graduated from Queen's University with a Masters in Irish Politics and a Certificate in Education.  She is a former teacher of history and politics to A level at Grovesnor Grammar School and until recently worked as the business manager of the family business in Newtownards.  Elected as an MLA for Strangford in 2007, McIlveen has also sat as a DUP representative on Ards Borough Council since 2005.  Her interests include education and economic development matters. Michelle is a member of the Education Committee and Social Development Committee in the Assembly.

DAVID McNARRY MLA (UUP)

David McNarry is a former Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Ards Borough Council, and has served as Chair of Strangford UUP Constituency Association. He is a retired businessman who was an importer and retailer of tiles for 25 years. He was formerly a Special Adviser to then UUP Leader and First Minister David Trimble MP MLA. McNarry has strong Orange links and has shown interests in planning and infrastructure, housing and community relations. He stood for the Party Leadership in 2005 along with Alan McFarland and Sir Reg Empey, however polled very poorly.  He has been an MLA since 2003 and is the UUP's Chief Whip and Party Spokesperson on Culture, Arts and Leisure. He is Deputy Chair of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee and a member of the Business Committee in the Assembly.

IRIS ROBINSON MP MLA (DUP)

Iris Robinson was born in 1949 and was educated at Knockbreda High School and Castlereagh College, where she met and married Peter Robinson, who went on to became a Councillor, MP and MLA (DUP - East Belfast and Deputy Leader of the DUP). Iris was first elected to Castlereagh Borough Council in 1989 and became the first woman Mayor in 1992. Iris became Member of Parliament for Strangford at the 2001 General Election and was re-elected in May 2005.  She has topped the poll in each of the 1998, 2003 and 2007 Assembly Elections. Iris is Chair of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee in the Assembly and Party Spoksperson on Health issues.

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JIM SHANNON MLA (DUP)

Jim Shannon was born in 1955 and was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and he is married with three sons. A former pork retailer Shannon has served as a councillor on Ards Borough Council since 1985 and served a term as mayor in 1991. An elected MLA since 1998 Jim was comfortably re-elected to the Assembly in 2007 on the sixth count. Jim is a member of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee and the Committee for OFMDFM in the Assembly. Jim has tabled the most written questions of any MLA since the return of devolution.