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Profile

Liberal Democrat Peer, Former Speaker, and MLA for Belfast East

Entered the House of Lords in 1996

Entered the Assembly on 25 June 1998 — General election

Left the Assembly on 28 April 2003 — General election

Party was Alliance until 30 Jun 1998; Initial Presiding Officer until 30 Nov 1999; Speaker until 28 Apr 2003

Also represented Belfast East

• Wikipedia page

Currently held offices

• Member, International Relations and Defence Committee (since 31 Jan 2024)

Other offices held in the past

• Member, Procedure and Privileges Committee ( 4 Feb 2021 to 31 Jan 2024)
• Member, COVID-19 Committee (11 Jun 2020 to 28 Apr 2022)
• Member, International Agreements Committee (23 Apr 2020 to 11 Jun 2020)
• Deputy Chairman of Committees (21 Apr 2020 to 22 Jul 2021)
• Member, EU External Affairs Sub-Committee ( 2 Jul 2019 to 23 Apr 2020)
• Member, Administration and Works Committee (Lords) ( 8 Jun 2015 to 31 Aug 2016)
• Member, Administration and Works Committee (Lords) ( 8 Jun 2015 to 31 Aug 2016)
• Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Northern Ireland) ( 1 Jun 2015 to 28 Oct 2016)
• Member, Mental Capacity Act 2005 Committee (16 May 2013 to 25 Feb 2014)
• Member, Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I (22 Jun 2010 to 13 Oct 2011)
• Member, House Committee (Lords) (15 Jun 2010 to 25 Feb 2014)
• Member, Liaison Committee (Lords) (15 Jun 2010 to 25 Feb 2014)
• Member, Procedure and Privileges Committee (19 Nov 2002 to 7 Apr 2005)

Recent appearances

• King’s Speech - Debate (7th Day) 25 Jul 2024

  My Lords, how to address in five minutes the range of foreign affairs and defence in a fast-changing world, and the context of deepening global conflict? Since 1964—fully 60 years ago—we have had not a War Office, but a Ministry of Defence. I welcome the immediate announcement by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, that we are to have a new strategic defence review, and I congratulate...

• Foreign Affairs - Motion to Take Note 5 Mar 2024

  My Lords, I remind the House of my interests in the register, especially as executive chairman of the Changing Character of War Centre at Pembroke College, Oxford, and as founding chairman of the Concord Foundation, an independent peacebuilding organisation. As others have commented, our world is spinning into increasing turmoil. It is not just the spreading violence and war; people across...

• Windsor Framework (Constitutional Status of Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024 - Motion to Approve 13 Feb 2024

  I wonder if I might just respond to that point. It seems to me that Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England are important separate jurisdictions with their own statute books and so on. That is not the case for some of the other areas that the noble Lord refers to. The point I was making was that when people talk about the people of Northern Ireland wanting this, that and the other...

More of Lord Alderdice’s recent appearances

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