Dermot Nesbitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dermot Nesbitt
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| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office 20 February 2002 – 15 October 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Sam Foster |
| Succeeded by | Arlene Foster |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Down |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 7 March 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | John McCallister |
| Northern Ireland Forum Member for South Down |
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| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 |
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| Preceded by | New forum |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| Member of Down District Council |
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| In office 15 May 1985 – 17 May 1989 |
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| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Albert Colmer |
| Constituency | Rowallane |
| In office 20 May 1981 – 15 May 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Edward McVeigh |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Constituency | Down Area A |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 August 1947 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party (before 1974;1981 - present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Unionist Party NI (1974-1981) |
| Spouse | Oriel Nesbitt (m.1970-present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Profession | Economist, academic |
Dermot Nesbitt, born on August 14, 1947, is a former politician from Northern Ireland. He was a member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the area of South Down from 1998 to 2007. An MLA is someone elected by the people to represent them in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is like a local parliament.
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Dermot Nesbitt's Early Life and Education
Dermot Nesbitt went to Down High School. Later, he studied economics at Queen's University Belfast. After his studies, he joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). From 1973 to 1977, he worked as an election agent for Brian Faulkner. An election agent helps a politician with their election campaigns. During much of this time, Nesbitt was part of the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland.
Career as a Lecturer and Politician
Nesbitt also worked as a lecturer at Queen's University. By 1981, he had rejoined the UUP. He was then elected to the Down District Council, which is a local government body. He held this position until 1989.
In 1996, Nesbitt was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for South Down. He kept this seat when he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 1998 and 2003 elections.
Roles in Government
From 1998 to 2002, Dermot Nesbitt served as a junior minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. A junior minister helps a main minister with their duties. In 2002, he became the Minister of the Environment. He retired from politics in 2007. After his retirement, his party colleague John McCallister won the UUP seat in the South Down area.
Nesbitt also ran for the Westminster seat of South Down in the 1997, 2001, and 2005 general elections, but he was not successful. He continued to work as a finance lecturer at QUB until he was in his early 70s.
Community Involvement
On December 7, 1983, Dermot Nesbitt was present when his colleague, Edgar Graham, was tragically killed near the main campus library at Queen's University.
Nesbitt lives in Crossgar, where his family has lived for many generations. He has been very active in many community and church groups in the area.
