All-party group summary

agendaNi lists the all-party groups established in the new Assembly to date.

All-party groups consist of at least 10 MLAs who must represent all three designations (unionist, nationalist and other). Outside organisations and individuals are often welcome to inform members of their work.

A decision on the formation of an all-party group is made by the Standards and Privileges Committee when it is clear that the group does not seek to further particular commercial interests. However, this does not mean that all-party groups cannot be formed to support particular trades, industries or sectors e.g. construction and rural sustainability. All-party groups do not have the powers of an Assembly committee or any formal role in policy development, but issues discussed can help influence policy in that subject area.

Financial support can be accepted by a group as long as it adheres to the ‘advocacy rule’ i.e. members cannot highlight an issue on behalf of a person in return for payment and cannot benefit a body or individual outside the Assembly from which they have received or expect to receive a financial or material reward.

Autism

Purpose: To influence government policy on autism.
Chair: Dominic Bradley (SDLP)
Vice Chair: Kieran McCarthy (Alliance)

Cancer

Purpose: To educate and inform MLAs on relevant issues in relation to cancer and related health policy.
Chair: Thomas Buchanan (DUP)

Vice Chair: Cathal Ó hOisín (Sinn Féin)

Children and young people

Purpose: To work with children and young people and the children’s sector to facilitate better co-ordination on children’s issues within the Assembly and Executive; and to make them a priority in the Programme for Government.

Chair: Michelle McIlveen (DUP)
Vice Chair: Chris Lyttle (Alliance)

Community and voluntary sector

Purpose: To inform and update members on issues pertinent to the sector.
Chair: Roy Beggs (UUP)

Vice Chair: Jonathan Craig (DUP)

Diabetes

Purpose: To raise the profile of diabetes and its prevention, and to monitor and debate diabetes related policy. Chair: Pat Ramsey (SDLP)

Vice Chair: Stewart Dickson (Alliance)

Ethnic minority communities

Purpose: To allow ethnic minority communities to discuss and lobby with politicians on issues of specific concern. Chair: Steven Agnew (Green)

Vice Chair: David McIlveen (DUP)

Funerals and bereavement

Purpose: To provide a forum for discussion of funeral and bereavement issues.
Chair: David McClarty (Independent)
Vice Chair: Dominic Bradley (SDLP)

International development

Purpose: To give leadership and practical help to developing countries.
Chair: Conall McDevitt (SDLP)
Vice Chair: Jim Wells (DUP)

Learning disability

Purpose: To promote better understanding of the issues facing people with a learning disability and their families and influence policy, legislation and service developments to improve their lives.
Chair: Pat Ramsey (SDLP)
Vice Chair: Paul Givan (DUP)

Pro-life

Purpose: To uphold the sanctity of life, including the life of the unborn child and to promote a pro-life perspective in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Chair: Pat Ramsey (SDLP)
Vice Chair: Mervyn Storey (DUP)

Sexual health

Purpose: To identify and promote more innovative and cost-effective methods of sexual health clinical services and encourage education that will enable people to develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary for improving sexual health.

Chair: Anna Lo (Alliance)
Vice Chair: Michaela Boyle (Sinn Féin)

UNSCR 1325: women, peace and security
Purpose: To raise awareness of the lack of participation of women in political and public life in areas outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Chair: Paula Bradley (DUP)
Vice Chair: Anna Lo (Alliance)

Visual impairment

Purpose: To oversee and provide political support for the implementation of the RNIB Northern Ireland Pledge and the National Vision Strategy.
Chair: Jim Wells (DUP)
Vice Chair: Pat Ramsey (SDLP)

The following all-party groups from the previous mandate may be reconstituted in the next term: climate change; construction; co-operatives and mutuals; disability; energy; road safety; rural sustainability; and the USA group.