Willie Hay, Baron Hay of Ballyore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Hay of Ballyore
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Official portrait, 2022
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 16 December 2014 Life peerage |
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| 3rd Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly | |
| In office 8 May 2007 – 13 October 2014 |
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| Deputy | David McClarty (2007–11) Francie Molloy (2007–13) John Dallat (2007–14) Roy Beggs Jr (2011–14) Mitchel McLaughlin (2013–14) |
| Preceded by | Eileen Bell |
| Succeeded by | Mitchel McLaughlin |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Foyle |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 13 October 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Maurice Devenney |
| Mayor of Derry | |
| In office 1993–1994 |
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| Preceded by | Mary Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Annie Courtney |
| Deputy mayor of Derry | |
| In office 1992–1993 |
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| Member of Derry City Council |
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| In office 15 May 1985 – 5 May 2011 |
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| Preceded by | District established |
| Succeeded by | Gary Middleton |
| Constituency | Rural |
| In office 20 May 1981 – 15 May 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Craig |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Constituency | Londonderry Area A |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 April 1950 Milford, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Spouses | Doris, Lady Hay of Ballyore (née McMorris) |
William Alexander Hay, Baron Hay of Ballyore (born 16 April 1950), is a politician from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He is a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. He became a Lord in 2014.
Before joining the House of Lords, Lord Hay was the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2007 to 2014. He was also a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for the area of Foyle from 1998 to 2014.
He went to Faughan Valley High School in Drumahoe, County Londonderry. Lord Hay was born an Irish citizen. He has spoken about not being automatically considered a British citizen, even though he lived in Northern Ireland his whole life. A new law now helps people like him become British citizens more easily.
Contents
Political Career Highlights
Early Steps in Politics
William Hay started his political journey in 1981. He was elected to the Londonderry City Council in Northern Ireland as a member of the Democratic Unionist Party. He served as the Mayor of Derry in 1993 and as Deputy Mayor in 1992.
In 1998, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This was an important step in his career. He also became a member of the Northern Ireland Housing Council and the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commission. In 2001, he joined the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Becoming Speaker of the Assembly
On 8 May 2007, William Hay was chosen to be the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Speaker is like the referee in a debate. They make sure that discussions in the Assembly are fair and follow the rules. This was a very important job in Northern Ireland's government.
Lord Hay is also a well-known member of the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys of Derry. These are cultural and historical organizations in Northern Ireland.
Retirement and the House of Lords
On 6 October 2014, William Hay announced he would be leaving the Northern Ireland Assembly. He retired as both an MLA and the Speaker on 13 October 2014. He made this decision to focus on his health. Mitchel McLaughlin took over his role as Speaker.
In August 2014, it was announced that he would become a life peer. This means he would get a special title and a seat in the House of Lords for the rest of his life. He chose to sit as a "crossbencher" at first, meaning he didn't officially belong to any political party in the House of Lords. However, he later decided to sit as a DUP member. On 16 December 2014, he officially became Baron Hay of Ballyore.
Understanding His Nationality
William Hay was born in 1950 in Milford, County Donegal, which is in the Republic of Ireland. County Donegal is in the north-west of Ulster, but it is part of the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland. When he was six years old, his family moved to Derry in Northern Ireland.
Even though he lived in Northern Ireland for most of his life, he was an Irish citizen. He had an Irish passport. For a long time, he felt he should automatically be a British citizen too. He said he was being treated unfairly because he couldn't easily get a British passport without paying a fee and taking a test.
However, a new law was passed in the UK. This law, which came into effect after January 2024, allows people born in the Republic of Ireland after 1948 who have lived in Northern Ireland for more than five years to register as British citizens. This change means people like Lord Hay can now more easily become British citizens if they wish.
