Events hosted by the Speaker
The Speaker hosts a range of events designed to promote an understanding of the Assembly as an institution and to develop links with the wider Northern Ireland community. This page contains photographs of some events and visits hosted by the Speaker and arranged by the Speaker's Office:
Visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Visit by Sir David Steele KBE MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Presentation of the Assembly Award to the Northern Ireland Fire Service
Visit of Ms Isobel Coe, Aboriginal Ambassador to Europe
Celebration of Commonwealth Day 2002
Visit by Members of the National Assembly of Kosovo
Launch of an exhibition of drawings by Rowel Friers
Conference for Speakers, Presiding Officers and Clerks
Delegation of Parliamentarians from from the Assembly of Alberta
Unveiling of the Assembly portrait 'THE HOUSE WILL DIVIDE'
Unveiling of a portrait of Mr Seamus Mallon MP MLA
Visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Tuesday 14 May 2002
Click here to view further pictures and information about HM The Queen's visit.
Visit by Sir David Steele KBE MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Monday 20 December 1999
Left to right:
Sir David Steele KBE MSP, Presiding Officer, the Scottish Parliament
Lord Alderdice, Speaker, NI Assembly
Presentation of the Assembly Award to the Northern Ireland Fire Service
Tuesday 17 July 2001
Left to right (foreground):
Ms Bairbre De Brun, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Lord Alderdice, Speaker, NI Assembly
Mr John McClelland, Chief Fire Officer, NI Fire Service
Sir Reg Empey, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
On 27 November 2000, the Assembly voted unanimously in support of a motion which proposed that the Northern Ireland Fire Service should be recognised and honoured for the sacrifice made by its members in the service of the people of Northern Ireland. The wording of the agreed Motion was as follows:
"That this Assembly will institute an Award that recognises the great sacrifice and commitment to duty of members of the Fire Service in Northern Ireland and liaise with the Fire Service unions/representatives to examine any further awards."
An Assembly Award is a prestigious civic honour which is made on very rare occasions and only after the successful presentation of a Motion to the Assembly. This is the first Award of its kind.
The Assembly Commission decided that the Award should take the form of an illuminated scroll. This was presented by the Speaker of the Assembly, Lord Alderdice at a special ceremony which took place in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 17 July 2001.
Visit from Ms Isobel Coe, Aboriginal Ambassador to Europe
Monday 12 November 2001
Steve Cooney playing the didgeridoo
Commonwealth Day being celebrated in Parliament Buildings
Monday 11 March 2002
A reception was hosted in the Long Gallery to which Commonwealth Games medallists, students from Commonwealth countries who were studying in Northern Ireland and representatives from ethnic minorities were invited. Winners of a competition run be the Assembly for all primary 7 school children the theme of which was "Celebrating Diversity" were also invited.
The celebrations began with a welcome by Lord Alderdice, President of the Northern Ireland Assembly Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Messengers choir from Uganda put on an impressive performance of song and dance in their colourful traditional costumes. The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Mr Michael McGimpsey, launched a multimedia exhibition on behalf of the Community Relations Council and Lord Glentoran, who was the keynote speaker, gave a speech reflecting on the importance of the Commonwealth in all areas of life.
Visit by members of the National Assembly of Kosovo
27-29 May 2002
Launch of an exhibition of drawings by Rowel Friers
Tuesday 28 May 2002
Left to right:
Lord Alderdice, Speaker, NI Assembly
Captain William Long (standing beside his own caricature)
Mrs Friers (widow of Rowel Friers)
Eamon Mallie, Journalist
A collection of 46 Rowel Friers drawings of Members of the Northern Ireland Parliament, which was prorogued in 1972, was purchased on behalf of the Assembly Commission at auction on 4 February 2002. The Speaker launched an exhibition of these drawings on Tuesday 28 May 2002 in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings prior to them being removed for restoration. It is planned to put the drawings on permanent display in the Members' Bar in Parliament Buildings in due course.
Conference for Speakers, Presiding Officers and Clerks
27-28 June 2002
Left to right:
Mr Michael Birt, Deputy Bailiff of Jersey
Lord Elis Thomas, Presiding Officer, National Assembly of Wales
Donovan McClelland, Deputy Speaker, NI Assembly
Lord Alderdice, Speaker, NI Assembly
Dr John Marek, Deputy Presiding Officer, National Assembly of Wales
Sir David Steele KBE MSP, Presiding Officer, Scottish Parliament
Sir de Vic Carey, Bailiff of Guernsey
A Conference for Speakers, Presiding Officers and Clerks of United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands was hosted by The Speaker, Lord Alderdice on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 June 2002 in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The Conference Report can be accessed from here.
Visit by a delegation of Parliamentarians from the Assembly of Alberta
23- 24 September 2002
Unveiling of the Assembly portrait 'The House Will Divide'
10 February 2003
Click here to view further information about the Assembly portrait.
Unveiling of a portrait of Mr Seamus Mallon MP MLA
Tuesday 25 March 2003
Click here to view further information about the portrait.