Speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland facts for kids

The Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons was like the main referee or chairperson for the most important political meetings in Northern Ireland. This special job existed from 1921 to 1972. The Speaker made sure that all discussions and debates in the Parliament's main meeting room were fair and followed the rules.

The person holding this job had a special official home called Stormont House. All the Speakers who were chosen for this role were members of the Ulster Unionist Party. This was a big political group in Northern Ireland at that time.

At first, there was one Deputy Speaker. This person also helped the Speaker and was usually from the Ulster Unionist Party. In 1958, a second Deputy Speaker was added. From 1963 onwards, these helper roles were sometimes given to members of other political groups, like the Nationalist Party or the Northern Ireland Labour Party.

Important People: The Speakers

The table below shows the people who held the important job of Speaker in the Northern Ireland House of Commons.

Helping the Speaker: Deputy Speakers

The Speaker had helpers called Deputy Speakers. These people would step in if the Speaker was not available. They also had another role called "Chairman of Ways and Means." This meant they helped manage the financial parts of the Parliament's work.