KIERAN DEENY MLA (Independent Health Coalition)

Dr Kieran Deeny was the first single issue candidate to be elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Born in October 1954, the GP is married to Noleen and they have three children. The campaign to protect health services in Omagh ensured he topped the poll in West Tyrone.  He played GAA for County Down in the 1970s and played soccer in the Irish League and League of Ireland.  Kieran contested the 2005 Westminster election polling over 11,000 votes.  He was first elected to the Assembly in 2003 and successfully defended his seat, again as an Independent in 2007. In May 2007, Deeny changed his status as an Independent to become Leader and a member of the Independent Health Coalition Party in the Assembly. Kieran is a member of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee in the Assembly.

PAT DOHERTY MP MLA (SF)

The son of emigrant Donegal parents, Pat Doherty was born in Glasgow in July 1945. He was educated at St Joseph's College Lochwinnoch and is married with five children.  His brother Hugh was a member of the Balcombe Street Gang.  Sinn Féin Vice-President since 1988, he was elected as MP for West Tyrone in the 2001 General Election and was re-elected in 2005.  Doherty has lived in Donegal since 1968.  Pat has been an MLA since 1998 and in the 2007 Assembly Election he was comfortably  re-elected on the first count. Doherty sits on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee in the Assembly.

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BARRY McELDUFF MLA (SF)

Barry McElduff was born in 1966 and was educated at Christian Brothers School in Omagh.  He studied Celtic Studies and Political Science at Queen's University Belfast, and is married with two daughters. He was elected to Omagh District Council in 2000, which he chaired from 2001-2003.  An MLA since 1998 Barry topped the poll for West Tyrone in the 2007 Assembly election receiving nearly 7,000 votes. Barry is Chair of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure and sits on the Committee for OFMDFM in the Assembly.

THOMAS BUCHANAN MLA (DUP)

Thomas Buchanan was born in 1963 in Drumquin in West Tyrone and educated at Omagh Technical College.  Previously a building contractor, he was elected to Omagh District Council in 1993 and in 2003 was elected to the Assembly to represent West Tyrone.  He successfully defended his seat in 2007 after being elected on the sixth count.  He is the Deputy Chair of Coolish Ulster Scots Association.   His political interests include rural redevelopment, roads and schools.  Thomas is a member of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee in the Assembly.

ALLAN BRESLAND MLA (DUP)

Allan Bresland resides in Sion Mills and is married with four children and four grandchildren.  He retired from the Water Service and was elected to Strabane District Council in 1993.  In 2007 he was elected as an MLA alongside running mate Tom Buchanan as the two DUP representatives for West Tyrone.  He is currently Chair of the Western Group Environmental Health Committee and is a member of the District Policing Partnership in Strabane.  His interests include rural affairs, roads, housing, sport and the preservation of British culture. Allan is a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and the Committee on Standards and Privileges in the Assembly.

CLAIRE MCGILL MLA (SF)

Claire McGill was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007 as a Sinn Féin representative for West Tyrone, becoming the first woman to have been elected to the constituency since 1998.  Since 2001, McGill has also represented Sinn Féin for the Glenelly Electoral Area on the Strabane District Council.  As well as being a full time Councillor, Claire is also a member of the Tyrone Hospital Campaign Steering Group and the Western Health & Library Board. As part of a party reshuffle a year into the Assembly Claire moved to the Health Committee and stood down from the Social Development Committee and Committee on Standards and Privileges. She also remains a member of the Employment and Learning Committee. Claire is Party Spokesperson on anti-poverty issues.