Welcome to the web site of David Ford

Leading Change for Antrim and Newtownabbey since 1998

Since 1998 I have been Alliance's member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim. Until 2011, this included the diverse communities of Antrim, Ballyclare, Ballyeaston, Ballynure, Ballyrobert, Carnmoney, Crumlin, Doagh, Glengormley, Mallusk, Muckamore, Parkgate, Randalstown, Templepatrick and Toome. This year, most of central Glengormley transfers to North Belfast, but Glenavy, Dundrod and Stoneyford transfer to South Antrim from Lagan Valley.

I was also a member of Antrim Borough Council, where I served from 1993 to 2001 and was elected again in 2005, serving until 2010.

As well as my role representing South Antrim, I was elected Minister of Justice by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12 April 2010.

Further information can be found at the website of the Alliance Party.

You can read details of my election as Justice Minister in the Hansard of 12 April 2010.

In the room where the Agreement was reached on Good Friday, 1998, now the headquarters of my Department, I set out my key priorities as Minister of Justice on 7 June 2010.

Press releases issued on my behalf as Minister of Justice are available at the Department of Justice Media Centre.

Tribute to "the Folks on the Hill" creator and political satirist Sean Crummey Mon 14th Nov 2011 Sean Crummey, political satirist who was best known for his television and radio show "the Folks on the Hill" died yesterday, I would like to extend my sympathies to Sean Crummey's families and friends. Sean was one of Northern Ireland's most popular and admired comics.

Congratulations to Michael D Higgins as he's elected President of Ireland Sat 29th Oct 2011 As he was set to be announced President of Ireland, I congratulated Michael D Higgins and told him that I looked forward to close co-operation with him. I also praised Mary McAleese on her successful time as President and wished her well for the future.

Northern Ireland still needs an independent Environmental Protection Agency Tue 18th Oct 2011 Today in an Assembly adjournment debate on pollution at the Sixmilewater River, speaking as Alliance MLA for South Antrim, I re-emphasised my belief that there is the need for the creation of an independent Environmental Protection Agency:

Highlighting initative to give schools free tickets to London 2012 Olympic Games Tue 11th Oct 2011 Schools right across the United Kingdom are being given the opportunity to get involved in a once in a lifetime event. As Assembly Member for South Antrim, I have written to the Principals of the schools in the constituency to make sure that they know about the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative.

Rathlin Island Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Tue 4th Oct 2011 "Mr Deputy Speaker, you will see that I am speaking from the Back Benches, as I am happy to say that the Department of Justice has no direct involvement with Rathlin, although last year, not long after the House elected me as Minister of Justice, I arrived on Rathlin to discover that I had just missed the annual Rathlin meeting of Moyle District Policing Partnership. It was a fairly short meeting, and that says a fair bit about Rathlin.

[Archive of earlier news stories]

[Archive of earlier articles]

[Archive of earlier speeches]

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