Pauline Armitage

Family

married

Early career

Ulster Defence Regiment, Housing Executive Board

Early political experience

Coleraine Council (1985-date), Mayor of Coleraine (1995-97)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

Independent Unionist (UUP to 2001)

Constituency

Londonderry East

Committees

Public Accounts and Health (2000-), Social Services and Public Safety (1999-)

Eileen Bell

Date of Birth

15 August 1943

Family

married

Education

University of Ulster, Jordanstown

Early career

civil servant, M & S personnel department, peace activist

Early political experience

North Down Council (1993), various offices within Alliance Party

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

Alliance

Constituency

North Down

Offices held

Deputy leader of Alliance Party (2001-)

Spokesman on:

Higher & Further Education; Training & Employment; Equality & Community Relations

Committees

Education committee

Joan Carson

Date of Birth

29 January 1935 (née Patterson)

Family

married, three children

Education

Stranmillis College

Early career

teacher, school principal

Early political experience

Dungannon Council (1997-2001)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

UUP

Constituency

Fermanagh & South Tyrone

Committees

Environment (1999), Employment & Learning (2000-)

Bairbre De Brún

Date of Birth

1 January 1955

Family

Single

Education

University College Dublin, Queen's University of Belfast

Early career

language teacher

Early political experience

H-Block Committee

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

Sinn Féin

Constituency

West Belfast

Offices held

Minister of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (1999-date)

Other public offices

Sinn Féin National Executive

Carmel Hanna

Date of Birth

26 April 1946

Family

married, four children

Education

Royal Maternity Hospital

Early career

nurse

Early political experience

civil rights movement, Belfast City Council (1997-date)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

SDLP

Constituency

South Belfast

Offices held

Minister of Employment & Learning (2001-)

Committees

Health, Social Services & Public Safety Committee

Patricia Lewsley

Date of Birth

3 March 1957

Family

divorced, five children

Education

University of Ulster

Early career

Director, City West Action

Early political experience & other campaigns

Belfast City Council (1993-97), Lisburn Council (2001-); contested Lagan Valley (2001)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

SDLP

Constituency

Lagan Valley

Spokeman on:

Education, Women's Issues

Committees

Enterprise, Trade & Investment; Education (1999-), Finance & Personnel (2001-), Centre (2000-)

Monica McWilliams

Date of Birth

28 April 1954

Family

married, two children

Education

Queen's University of Belfast, University of Michigan

Early career

professor of social policy and women's studies

Early political experience

founder of NIWC

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Other campaigns

contested South Belfast in UK election (2001)

Party

NIWC

Constituency

South Belfast

Committees

Employment & Learning (1999-); Health, Social Services & Public Safety (2000-); Assembly Business (2000-)

Jane Morrice

Date of Birth

11 May 1954

Family

married, children

Education

University of Ulster

Early career

journalist, head of European Community office in Northern Ireland

Early political experience

founder member of NIWC

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

NIWC

Constituency

North Down

Offices held

Deputy Speaker (2000-)

Committees

Enterprise, Trade & Investment (1999-); Public Accounts (2000-)

Mary Nelis

Date of birth

27 August 1935 (née Elliott)

Family

married, nine children

Early career

teacher,

Early political experience

active in SDLP, civil rights movement, contested election (1973), Derry City Council (1993-date)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

Sinn Féin

Constituency

Foyle

Spokesman on:

Further & Higher Education

Committees

Deputy chair, Arts & Leisure (1999-); Employment & Learning (1999-)

Dara O'Hagan

Date of Birth

29 August 1964

Family

married

Education

University of Ulster, Queen's University of Belfast

Early career

economic researcher

Early political experience

contested Upper Bann (2001)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

Sinn Féin

Constituency

Upper Bann

Committees

Enterprise, Trade & Investment (1999-); Standards & procedures (2000-)

Sue Ramsey

Date of Birth

13 September 1970

Education

Portrush Catering College

Early career

chef

Early political experience

Lisburn Council (1997-)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

Sinn Féin

Constituency

West Belfast

Offices

Chief Whip (2002-date)

Committees

Deputy chair, Public accounts (2000-); Health, Social Services & Public Safety (1999-)

Bríd Rodgers

Date of Birth

20 February 1935

Family

married, six children

Education

University College, Dublin

Early career

schoolteacher

Early political experience & other campaigns

Irish senator (1983-87), Craigavon Council (1988-93); contested Upper Bann (1987, 1990, 1992, 1997), West Tyrone (2001)

Years in the assembly

1998-date

Party

SDLP

Constituency

Upper Bann

Offices held

Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development (1999-), Deputy Leader, SDLP (2001-)

Other responsibilities

Spokesman for Women, Cultural Affairs and Parades (1998-2000)

Party offices

Chairman (1978-80), General Secretary (1981-83)

Annie Courtney

Family

married, three children

Early career

nurse

Early political experience

Derry City Council (1985-date), Mayor of Derry (1993-94), contested Assembly election (1998)

Years in the assembly

2000-date

Party

Independent (SDLP to 2003)

Constituency

Foyle

Committees

Centre (2001-), Enterprise, Training & Investment (2001-)