EVENTS
Since the Speaker, Mr William Hay MLA, was elected in May 2007 he has welcomed many Presidents, Ambassadors and dignitaries to Parliament Buildings. The Speaker hosts a range of events designed to promote an understanding of the Assembly as an institution and to develop links with the wider Northern Ireland community. This page contains photographs of some events and visits by the Speaker and arranged by the Speaker's Office:
Thursday 12 June
The Speaker, Mr William Hay MLA, welcomed the International Parliamentary Governance Seminar delegates to Parliament Buildings where they discussed a wide range of topics including Power Sharing in Practice and the Role of Committees.
Tuesday 17 June
The Committee on Procedures & Privileges from Seanad Eireann visited Parliament Buildings for meetings with the relevant commitees and lunch hosted by the Speaker.
Tuesday 20 May
Deputy Speaker, Mr David McClarty MLA greets the delegates from the CPA Scottish Branch, Ms Roseanna Cunningham MSP and Mr Ted Brocklebank MSP, to Parliament Buildings. Ms Cunningham and Mr Brocklebank attended a meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive Branch of CPA and then attended a lunch in the Member's Dining Room.
Thursday 15 May
Deputy Speaker, Mr John Dallat MLA, welcomes a delegation of Nicaraguan Parliamentarians to Parliament Buildings.
Above, Deputy Speaker Dallat presents the President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua, Mr Ing René Núñez Téllez, with a limited edition print of Parliament Buildings and a pair of Northern Ireland Assembly Cufflinks.
Monday 12 May
Deputy Speaker, Mr John Dallat MLA welcomed the High Commissioner for Malta, HE Dr Michael Refalo to Parliament Buildings.
Thursday 24 April
The Speaker in conversation with the Ambassador to Slovenia during his visit to Parliament Buildings on 24 April where he out lined the strategic priorities for Slovenia during their current Presidency of the European Union.
Monday 21 April
'The Speaker welcomed His Excellency Mr Edgardo Espiritu, Philippines Ambassador to the UK, to Parliament Buildings.
Monday 14 April
First Minister, deputy First Minister and Patrick Cregg help the Speaker plant a tree
The Speaker facilitated a tree planting ceremony for the Woodland Trust. The Speaker was accompanied by the First Minister, Dr Ian Paisley MP MLA, deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness MP MLA, Minister of the Environment, Mrs Arlene Foster MLA, Chairman of the Environment Committee, Mr Patsy McGlone MLA and Mr Patrick Cregg, Woodland Trust. This ceremony was to help highlight the Assembly’s commitment to conserving our natural heritage while redressing the balance in respect of our lowland woodland cover.
Thursday 10 April
Speaker presents the Flemish Deputy Speaker with a piece of Tyrone Crystal
A delegation from the Flemish Parliament visited the Northern Ireland Assembly as part of an exercise to benchmark Parliamentary practice across European Parliaments. The Speaker, as chair of the Commission, hosted a lunch for the group which included the Flemish Deputy Speaker, Mr Carl Decaluwe.
Thursday 3 April
The President of Burundi visited the Assembly on Thursday 3 April to have meetings with the All Party Group on International Development. He also attended a dinner hosted by the Speaker to mark the work of Aid Agencies in Northern Ireland.
The Speaker presents the President with a piece of engraved Tyrone Crystal to mark his visit
Thursday 3 April
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, Mr Michael Kitt TD paid a courtesy call to the Speaker after attending the All Party Group on International Development meeting.
Saturday 15 March
The Speaker hosted a St Patrick’s Day Celebration on Saturday 15 March 2008 for MLAs and over 200 senior citizens from across Northern Ireland. Master of Ceremonies, Mr Gerry Anderson with performances by Melisma, The Rooney Family, Celtic Storm, Rois Kelly and Piping Hot.
Piping Hot, Lambeg Drums
Melisma, choral singers
Mark Wilson on the Snare Drum
Celtic Storm
11 March 2008
The Speaker hosted a reception to mark the launch of Sesame Tree, Northern Ireland’s version of Sesame Street. The Speaker presented Mr Gary Knell, President of Sesame Workshop, with a signed picture of the muppets.
11 March 2008
The Speaker welcomed Ms Li Libei, Head of Staff and Consul in the Chinese Consulate in Edinburgh, to Parliament Buildings.
10 March 2008
Mr Speaker welcomed the Ambassador of Poland, Mrs Barbara Krystyna Tuge-Erecińska, to Parliament Buildings.
4 March 2008
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr William Hay, MLA welcomes Sheikh Human Bakir Abdulmajed Hamoudi, member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives to Parliament Buildings.
8 February 2008
Deputy Speaker, David McClarty MLA welcomed European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Mr Charlie McCreevy to Parliament Buildings.
4 December 2007
The Speaker hosted the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree event which was aimed at the business community. The evening included a speech from Mr Mark Durkan MP MLA, Chairman of the DETI Committee and a performance by Anuna.
20 November 2007
The Speaker welcomed the Iranian Ambassador, Mr Rasoul Movahedian Attar to the Assembly.
20-23 November 2007
The Speaker was invited to visit the Basque Parliament on an inter-parliamentary exchange. The Speaker was hosted by the President of the Basque Parliament and spent time meeting the various parties.
9 November 2007
Deputy Speaker, Mr David McClarty MLA, hosted lunch on behalf of the Speaker for the President of the Czech Republic, Mr Václar Klaus.
2 October 2007
The Speaker welcomed the Lord Chief Justice to Parliament Buildings.
12 September 2007
The Speaker welcomed his counterparts from Scotland, Mr Alex Ferguson MSP and Wales, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, to Parliament Buildings for their first formal Presiding Officers meeting.
Please click here for a full list of events/functions hosted by the Speaker