The new committees
A summary of Stormont’s committees as the new Assembly gets down to business.
After the formation of the new Executive, the Assembly turned to the task of establishing the new committees. Twelve statutory committees and six standing committees will scrutinise the work of the Executive.
The Assembly committees are charged with advising and assisting ministers in formulating policy. Committees have several powers. A committee can consider and advise on a department’s budgets and annual plans. They take committee stage of primary legislation and can consider secondary legislation. They can also call for people or papers, initiate inquiries and make reports, as well as advise ministers on matters which they
bring to committees.
Standing committees deal primarily with administrative matters pertaining to the Assembly. The main exception is the Public Accounts Committee.
Ad hoc committees can also be established by the Assembly to deal with specific issues.
Committee Membership: Statutory Committees
Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
Chair: Paul Frew DUP
Deputy Chair: Dolores Kelly SDLP
Members
Thomas Buchanan DUP
Trevor Clarke DUP
Willie Clarke SF
Jo-Anne Dobson UUP
William Irwin DUP
Kieran McCarthy All
Oliver McMullan SF
Conor Murphy SF
Robin Swann UUP
Clerk: Stephen Graham
Tel: 028 9052 1784
Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
Chair: Michelle McIlveen DUP
Deputy Chair: William Irwin DUP
Members
Dominic Bradley SDLP
Brenda Hale DUP
David Hilditch DUP
Gerry Kelly SF
Michael McGimpsey UUP
Karen McKevitt SDLP
Cathal Ó hOisín SF
Pat Sheehan SF
Robin Swann UUP
Clerk: Lucia Wilson
Tel: 028 9052 1783
Education Committee
Chair: Mervyn Storey DUP
Deputy Chair: David McNarry UUP
Members
Michaela Boyle SF
Jonathan Craig DUP
Jo-Anne Dobson UUP
Phil Flanagan SF
Brenda Hale DUP
Trevor Lunn All
Conall McDevitt SDLP
Michelle McIlveen DUP
Daithí McKay SF
Clerk: Roisin Kelly
Tel: 028 9052 1655
Employment and Learning Committee
Chair: Basil McCrea UUP
Deputy Chair: Thomas Buchanan DUP
Members
Jim Allister TUV
Sammy Douglas DUP
Michelle Gildernew SF
Chris Lyttle All
Barry McElduff SF
David McIlveen DUP
Sandra Overend UUP
Pat Ramsey SDLP
Alastair Ross DUP
Clerk: Cathie White
Tel: 028 9052 1448
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
Chair: Alban Maginness SDLP
Deputy Chair: Daithí McKay SF
Members
Steven Agnew Green
Gordon Dunne DUP
Phil Flanagan SF
Alasdair McDonnell SDLP
David McIlveen DUP
Stephen Moutray DUP
Mike Nesbitt UUP
Robin Newton DUP
Sue Ramsey SF
Clerk: Jim McManus
Tel: 028 9052 1230
Environment Committee
Chair: Anna Lo All
Deputy Chair: Simon Hamilton DUP
Members
Cathal Boylan SF
Paula Bradley DUP
Willie Clarke SF
John Dallat SDLP
Danny Kinahan UUP
Patsy McGlone SDLP
Francie Molloy SF
Maurice Morrow DUP
Peter Weir DUP
Clerk: Alex McGarel
Tel: 028 9052 1347
Finance and Personnel Committee
Chair: Conor Murphy SF
Deputy Chair: Dominic Bradley SDLP
Members
Judith Cochrane All
Leslie Cree UUP
Paul Girvan DUP
David Hilditch DUP
William Humphrey DUP
Ross Hussey UUP
Mitchel McLaughlin SF
Adrian McQuillan DUP
Caitríona Ruane SF
Clerk: Shane McAteer
Tel: 028 9052 1843
Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee
Chair: Michelle Gildernew SF
Deputy Chair: Jim Wells DUP
Members
Michaela Boyle SF
Paula Bradley DUP
Mickey Brady SF
Gordon Dunne DUP
Mark H Durkan SDLP
Sam Gardiner UUP
Pam Lewis DUP
John McCallister UUP
Kieran McCarthy All
Clerk: Kathryn Bell
Tel: 028 9052 1841
Justice Committee
Chair: Paul Givan DUP
Deputy Chair: Raymond McCartney SF
Members
Sydney Anderson DUP
Stewart Dickson All
Colum Eastwood SDLP
Seán Lynch SF
Alban Maginness SDLP
Jennifer McCann SF
Basil McCrea UUP
Peter Weir DUP
Jim Wells DUP
Clerk: Christine Darrah
Tel: 028 9052 1629
OFMDFM Committee
Chair: Tom Elliott UUP
Deputy Chair: Chris Lyttle All
Members
Trevor Clarke DUP
Colum Eastwood SDLP
William Humphrey DUP
Alex Maskey SF
Francie Molloy SF
Sandra Overend UUP
George Robinson DUP
Caitríona Ruane SF
Jimmy Spratt DUP
Clerk: Peter Hall
Tel: 028 9052 0379
Regional Development Committee
Chair: Jimmy Spratt DUP
Deputy Chair: Pat Doherty SF
Members
Roy Beggs UUP
Joe Byrne SDLP
Dolores Kelly SDLP
Trevor Lunn All
Seán Lynch SF
Ian McCrea DUP
Stephen Moutray DUP
Mike Nesbitt UUP
Cathal Ó hOisín SF
Clerk: Paul Carlisle
Tel: 028 9052 1063
Social Development Committee
Chair: Alex Maskey SF
Deputy Chair: Mickey Brady SF
Members
Gregory Campbell DUP
Judith Cochrane All
Michael Copeland UUP
Sammy Douglas DUP
Mark H Durkan SDLP
Alex Easton DUP
Pam Lewis DUP
Fra McCann SF
David McClarty Ind
Clerk: John Simmons
Tel: 028 9052 1787
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Chair: Stephen Moutray DUP
Deputy Chair: Pat Sheehan SF
Members
Roy Beggs UUP
Gregory Campbell DUP
Stewart Dickson All
Paul Givan DUP
Simon Hamilton DUP
Paul Maskey SF
Raymond McCartney SF
Conall McDevitt SDLP
Mike Nesbitt UUP
Clerk: Paul Gill
Tel: 028 9052 0333
Audit Committee
Chair: Danny Kinahan UUP
Deputy Chair: David Hilditch DUP
Members
Anna Lo All
Paul Maskey SF
Margaret Ritchie SDLP
Clerk: Paul Gill
Tel: 028 9052 0333
Business Committee
Chair: The Speaker
Members
Stewart Dickson All
Paul Maskey SF
John McCallister UUP
Jennifer McCann SF
Conall McDevitt SDLP
Maurice Morrow DUP
Pat Ramsey SDLP
Robin Swann UUP
Peter Weir DUP
Clerk: Loretta Gordon
Tel: 028 9052 1534
Procedures Committee
Chair: Sue Ramsey SF
Deputy Chair: Trevor Clarke DUP
Members
Jim Allister TUV
Sam Gardiner UUP
Gerry Kelly SF
Chris Lyttle All
Alban Maginness SDLP
Oliver McMullan SF
Maurice Morrow DUP
George Robinson DUP
Mervyn Storey DUP
Clerk: Alison Ross
Tel: 028 9052 1436
Public Accounts Committee
Chair: Paul Maskey SF
Deputy Chair: Joe Byrne SDLP
Members
Sydney Anderson DUP
Michael Copeland UUP
John Dallat SDLP
Alex Easton DUP
Paul Frew DUP
Paul Girvan DUP
Ross Hussey UUP
Jennifer McCann SF
Mitchel McLaughlin SF
Clerk: Aoibhinn Treanor
Tel: 028 9052 1208
Standards and Privileges Committee
Chair: Alastair Ross DUP
Deputy Chair: Kieran McCarthy All
Members
Steven Agnew Green
Cathal Boylan SF
Paula Bradley DUP
Michael Copeland UUP
Jonathan Craig DUP
Pat Doherty SF
Fra McCann SF
Patsy McGlone SDLP
David McIlveen DUP
Clerk: Paul Gill
Tel: 028 9052 0333
Office of the Speaker
Speaker: William Hay DUP
Principal Deputy Speaker: To be appointed
Deputy Speakers
Roy Beggs UUP
John Dallat SDLP
Francie Molloy SF
Adviser: Robin Ramsey
Tel: 028 9052 1130
Assembly Commission
The commission is the body corporate of the Assembly and is responsible for ensuring the Assembly is provided with staff and resources. Its functions can be delegated to the Speaker or another member of the Assembly. Chairperson: The Speaker
Judith Cochrane: Alliance
Leslie Cree: UUP
Barry McElduff: SF
Pat Ramsey: SDLP
Peter Weir: DUP
Principal officers
The principal officers are the key clerks and officials responsible for supporting the working of the Assembly.
Clerk to the Assembly / Director General: Trevor Reaney
Director of Clerking and Reporting: John Stewart
Director of Engagement: Gareth McGrath
Director of Facilities: Stephen Welch
Directory of Resources: Richard Stewart
Director of Legal Services: Hugh Widdis
