NI Assembly goes on the road to give Balmoral visitors a taste of 'Life on the Hill'

The Northern Ireland Assembly is going on the road this week – giving visitors to the Balmoral Show an opportunity to sample ‘life on the hill’.

Drop into the Assembly’s marquee and you’ll be able to find out more about what happens behind the scenes at Parliament Buildings and how members of the public can have their say on key issues.

You can also enjoy short video tours of the historic building which will be screened at various times across the four days of the Show.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Edwin Poots MLA will officially open the marquee with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday morning (14 May) at 9.30am.

He said: “The Balmoral Show is a must-do date in the calendar for people from all over Northern Ireland – whether or not they have a farming background or connection.  It gives the Assembly and its Committees a real opportunity to engage with the rural community - one of Northern Ireland’s most important constituencies.

“It’s a wonderful event with so much to see and do.  As both the Assembly Speaker and a farmer myself, I’m looking forward to chatting to visitors who call into our marquee and having the chance to show them more about the work we do and the impact it can have on people’s lives. 

“As well as that, I will be taking time out to visit the other stands and listen to people’s thoughts and concerns on a wide range of issues.

“I’ll also be catching up with the Youth Assembly on Saturday when they will be putting me through my paces with members posing a series of questions about my role as Speaker.”

On Wednesday, the Assembly’s Finance Committee will be holding an information session on its Inquiry into banking services and is looking forward to surveying visitors to the Show.

Fittingly, the Assembly’s Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) will hold its weekly meeting at Balmoral on Thursday morning – and visitors are welcome to listen to the discussions in the public gallery which has been set up in the marquee.

On Thursday there’ll also be a Q&A session with the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, organised by the Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (AERA) and Economy Committees.

The Speaker will host a special reception on Thursday afternoon, which will be attended by industry leaders and key stakeholders.

Assembly Commission staff, who are usually based at Parliament Buildings, will be holding a series of workshops in the marqueeat various times between Wednesday and Saturday.  Everyone is welcome to come along to find more about what the Assembly is, how it works and how you can get involved.

There’ll also be lots more to see and do in the marquee. You can find out more about the legislative process, have some fun making suggestions for new laws using the ‘make a law tree’ and watch a rolling slideshow of footage and images which will show what’s happened since the Assembly came back in February 2024.  If you’re not sure of your constituency or local MLAs, staff will be on hand to assist you and little ones are sure to enjoy the children’s arts and crafts section.

ENDS

For further information and/or to arrange interviews / photographs at the Show, please contact the Assembly’s communications office communications@niassembly.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

• The Assembly’s stand is located in Section B (B44-45) at the Show, close to the cattle rings and adjacent to ‘Balmoral Way’.
• The Assembly marquee will be officially opened by the Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA on Wednesday 14 May at 9.30am. 

• The Assembly’s four-day programme is below:

Wednesday 14 May

9.30am                      Official opening of the marquee by NI Assembly Speaker

11.00am-1.00pm       Education Service workshops

1.00pm-3.00pm         Finance Committee information session

3.00pm-6.00pm         Parliament Buildings video tours

Thursday 15 May

9.30am-12.00pm       AERA Committee meeting

12.30pm-2.00pm       AERA and Economy Committees Q&A with NI Young Farmers

4.00pm-5.15pm         Speaker’s Reception: industry leaders and key stakeholders

Friday 16 May

9.30am-11.00am       Parliament Buildings tour video

11.00am-1.00pm       Assembly Explained workshops

1.00pm-3.00pm         Parliament Buildings tour video

3.00pm-5.00pm         Assembly Explained workshops

5.00pm-7.00pm         Parliament Buildings tour video

Saturday 17 May

9.30am-11.00am       Parliament Buildings tour video

11.00am-1.00pm       Speaker and Youth Assembly Q&A session

1.00pm-3.00pm         Assembly Explained workshops

3.00pm-6.00pm         Parliament Buildings tour video