WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
The elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly took place
on 5 May 2011.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has 108 members, or MLAs: six for each of
the eighteen constituencies, elected by the single transferable vote system.
Twenty women (19%) were returned in the 2011 elections, which is a marginal
increase of two women on the 2007 elections. Table 1 lists the current
women members of the Assembly, and Table 2 shows how many women each party
had among its MLAs.
In this election gains for women's representation have
come from the unionist parties with the UUP breaking its all-male return
to Stormont with the election of two women: Sandra Overend (Mid Ulster)
and Joanne Dobson (Upper Bann). Sinn Fein has consistently supported women's
electoral opportunities making up over one quarter of their MLAs in 2011.
Of the 18 constituencies, 5 have no female MLA - East Antrim, East Londonderry,
Newry and Armagh, North Antrim and North Down. South Down was unique in
electing three female MLA's. Eight of the twenty women elected are first-time
MLAs which is a positive development. However, the low overall representation
of women in Stormont is a matter of concern for democratic decision-making.
Analysis of the candidates for the 2011 Assembly elections
can be found here.
Table 1: Current women MLAs (as at 23 June 2011)
| Name |
Party
|
Constituency
|
Returned/New
|
| Judith Cochrane |
APNI
|
East Belfast
|
New
|
| Anna Lo |
APNI
|
South Belfast
|
Returned
|
| Arlene Foster |
DUP
|
Fermanagh & South Tyrone
|
Returned
|
| Paula Bradley |
DUP
|
North Belfast
|
New
|
| Pam Lewis |
DUP
|
South Antrim
|
New
|
| Michelle McIlveen |
DUP
|
Strangford
|
Returned
|
| Brenda Hale |
DUP
|
Lagan Valley
|
New
|
| Dolores Kelly |
SDLP
|
Upper Bann
|
Returned
|
| Margaret Ritchie |
SDLP
|
South Down
|
Returned
|
| Karen McKevitt |
SDLP
|
South Down
|
New
|
| Martina Anderson |
SF
|
Foyle
|
Returned
|
| Michelle Guildernew |
SF
|
Femanagh & South Tyrone
|
Returned
|
| Jennifer McCann |
SF
|
West Belfast
|
Returned
|
| Michaela Boyle |
SF
|
West Tyrone
|
New
|
| Carál Ní Chuilín |
SF
|
North Belfast
|
Returned
|
| Michelle O'Neill |
SF
|
Mid Ulster
|
Returned
|
| Sue Ramsey |
SF
|
West Belfast
|
Returned
|
| Catriona Ruane |
SF
|
South Belfast
|
Returned
|
| Sandra Overend |
UUP
|
Mid Ulster
|
New
|
| Joanne Dobson |
UUP
|
Upper Bann
|
New
|
Table 2: Northern Ireland Assembly by Gender and Party
| Party |
Women
|
Total Seats
|
% Women
|
| APNI |
2
|
8
|
25
|
| DUP |
5
|
38
|
13
|
| SDLP |
3
|
14
|
21
|
| SF |
8
|
29
|
28
|
| UUP |
2
|
16
|
12.5
|
| Other |
-
|
3
|
0
|
| Total |
20
|
108
|
18.5
|
|
