Danny Kennedy

Danny Kennedy (born 6 July 1959) is an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician and former MLA in Northern Ireland. He was formerly deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Assembly Group and is a former Minister for Regional Development. On 12 May 2016, Danny Kennedy was elected as Deputy Speaker of The Northern Ireland Assembly. It was confirmed that he had lost his seat as an MLA for Newry and Armagh on 3 March 2017.

Danny Kennedy
Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office 11 May 2016 – 29 June 2017
Preceded by	Roy Beggs Jr
Succeeded by	Roy Beggs Jr
Minister for Regional Development
In office 16 May 2011 – 1 September 2015
First Minister	Peter Robinson
Preceded by	Conor Murphy
Succeeded by	Michelle McIlveen
Minister for Employment and Learning
In office 27 October 2010 – 5 May 2011
First Minister	Peter Robinson
Preceded by	Sir Reg Empey
Succeeded by	Stephen Farry
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Newry and Armagh
In office 25 June 1998 – 26 January 2017
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	6 July 1959 Bessbrook, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse(s)	Karen
Children	3

Background

Kennedy is married with three children; Stephen, Phillip and Hannah. He was educated at Newry High School, and was an employee of British Telecom for 20 years before being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Kennedy is Presbyterian and belongs to the Orange Order.

Political career

Kennedy has served at all levels, both local and within the wider party organisation of the Ulster Unionist Party, which he joined in 1974. In 1996 he was an unsuccessful candidate in the Northern Ireland Forum election in Newry and Armagh.[1] He ran unsuccessfully for the UUP in the Westminster election in 1997, in which he polled over 18,000 votes against Seamus Mallon. He was elected to the Assembly in 1998.

Kennedy was UUP Assembly spokesman for education and chaired the Assembly Committee which both scrutinised and helped frame education legislation between 1998 and 2002. On the restoration of devolution in 2007 he became chairman of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. His performance in this office garnered him the award for "Best Committee Chair" from the Slugger O'Toole blogsite in 2008.[2]

Kennedy did not appeal an employment tribunal decision that found that a Protestant job applicant, Alan Lennon, had been discriminated against by Kennedy's predecessor Conor Murphy. Lennon was awarded £150,000 damages.[3]

Kennedy lost his seat as an MLA in the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election, which was held on 2 March 2017.

References

1. Northern Ireland elections
2. "Blog selects heroes and villains". BBC News. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
3. "Conor Murphy claims Danny Kennedy 'ignored' legal advice in DRD case". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 26 August 2012.

External links

• NI Assembly page
• UUP Profile