Paul Givan facts for kids

Paul Jonathan Givan, born on October 12, 1981, is a politician from Northern Ireland. He was the First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2021 to 2022. He is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Since February 3, 2024, he has been the Minister of Education. Givan has also been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since 2010.

Givan became First Minister on June 17, 2021. He was the youngest person to hold this important position. He stepped down on February 4, 2022, due to protests by his party about the Northern Ireland Protocol. Before that, from 2016 to 2017, Givan was the Minister for Communities in the Northern Ireland government.

Quick facts for kids Paul Givan MLA
Givan in 2012
Minister of Education
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 February 2024
Preceded by	Michelle McIlveen (2022)
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lagan Valley
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 June 2010
Preceded by	Jeffrey Donaldson
Office history First Minister of Northern Ireland In office 17 June 2021 – 4 February 2022 Serving with Michelle O'Neill Preceded by Arlene Foster Succeeded by Michelle O'Neill (2024) Minister for Communities In office 25 May 2016 – 26 January 2017 Preceded by Lord Morrow Succeeded by Deirdre Hargey (2020)
Committee history Chair of the Committee for Justice In office 14 January 2020 – 14 June 2021 Deputy Linda Dillon Preceded by Paul Frew (2017) Succeeded by Mervyn Storey In office 16 May 2011 – 19 December 2014 Deputy Raymond McCartney Preceded by Lord Morrow Succeeded by Alastair Ross Chair of the Committee of Standards and Privileges In office 28 September 2015 – 30 March 2016 Deputy Anna Lo Preceded by Jimmy Spratt Succeeded by Cathal Boylan
Member of Lisburn City Council
In office 5 May 2005 – 22 May 2014
Preceded by	William Lewis
Succeeded by	Council abolished
Constituency	Lisburn Town North
Personal details
Born	Paul Jonathan Givan (1981-10-12) 12 October 1981 (age 43) Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party
Spouse	Emma Givan
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Ulster

Early Life and Education

Paul Givan grew up in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He studied Business and History at Laurelhill Community College. He then went to the University of Ulster, where he earned a degree in Business Studies.

His father, Alan Givan, worked as a prison officer. Later, he also became a DUP councillor in Lisburn. Paul Givan was first elected to Lisburn City Council in 2005.

Part of Givan's family came from County Monaghan. After the Partition of Ireland in the 1920s, this part of his family moved north to County Tyrone. His grandfather, Herbie Givan, was born there and was one of the first members of the DUP.

Political Journey

Paul Givan's interest in politics began when he was 18. He worked part-time for Edwin Poots, another politician. He later became a special adviser for Poots when he was a minister.

Givan has said that listening to Ian Paisley, a famous DUP leader, made him interested in the DUP. He found Paisley's speeches very moving.

In 2010, Givan became a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. He took the place of Jeffrey Donaldson.

In May 2016, Givan was made Minister for Communities. In this role, he visited a GAA club in Lisburn in November 2016. He gave them a grant and even played Gaelic football with some of the children.

First Minister of Northern Ireland (2021–2022)

In May 2021, there was talk that Givan might become the First Minister of Northern Ireland. This happened after Edwin Poots was chosen as the new leader of the DUP. On June 8, 2021, Poots announced Givan as the "First Minister designate." At 39 years old, Givan became the youngest First Minister in Northern Ireland's history.

On June 17, 2021, Givan was officially nominated as First Minister. Sinn Féin then nominated Michelle O'Neill as deputy First Minister. This brought back the Northern Ireland government. However, soon after Givan was sworn in, DUP members held a meeting and chose a new party leader.

On February 3, 2022, Givan announced he was stepping down as First Minister. This was part of the DUP's protests against the Northern Ireland Protocol. He was First Minister for 231 days, making him the shortest-serving First Minister. Givan kept his seat as an MLA for Lagan Valley in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election.

Minister of Education (2024–Present)

Paul Givan was appointed Minister of Education on February 3, 2024. This happened when a new Northern Ireland government was formed.

On February 8, 2024, Givan shared his main goals for education after visiting Rathmore Grammar School. He said he has "ambitious plans to invest in our schools’ estate." He also wants to close the gap in wages between school staff in Northern Ireland and those in Great Britain. On February 12, 2024, he announced plans for new building projects for seven schools across Northern Ireland.