Ms Carál Ní Chuilín

Title: Ms
Official Last Name: Ní Chuilín
Official First Name: Carál
Usual First Name: Carál
Party: Sinn Féin
Constituency: North Belfast

Biography

Party History

Party	Role	Period
Sinn Féin	Party Member	05/05/2022 - Present
Sinn Féin	Party Member	02/03/2017 - 27/03/2022
Sinn Féin	Party Member	05/05/2016 - 25/01/2017
Sinn Féin	Party Member	05/05/2011 - 30/03/2016
Sinn Féin	Party Chief Whip	17/04/2007 - 25/03/2011
Sinn Féin	Party Member	07/03/2007 - 25/03/2011

MLA History

Date	Constituency	Designation
13/03/2007	North Belfast	Nationalist, First Elected
12/05/2011	North Belfast	Nationalist, Re-elected
12/05/2016	North Belfast	Nationalist, Re-elected
13/03/2017	North Belfast	Nationalist, Re-elected
13/05/2022	North Belfast	Nationalist, Re-elected

Office/Committee History

Period	Position	Office/Committee
10/02/2025 - Present	Committee Member	Assembly and Executive Review Committee
12/02/2024 - Present	Committee Member	Committee for The Executive Office
06/02/2024 - Present	Principal Deputy Speaker	Northern Ireland Assembly
19/03/2024 - 03/02/2025	Committee Chair	Chairpersons' Liaison Group
13/02/2024 - 19/03/2024	Committee Member	Chairpersons' Liaison Group
12/02/2024 - 03/02/2025	Committee Chair	Committee on Standards and Privileges
03/02/2024 - 06/02/2024	Deputy Speaker	Northern Ireland Assembly
18/02/2022 - 25/02/2022	Committee Member	Concurrent Committee of the Committee for Health and the Committee for Justice
03/02/2022 - 10/02/2022	Committee Member	Concurrent Committee of the Committee for Health and Committee for Education
21/09/2021 - 28/03/2022	Committee Chair	Chairpersons' Liaison Group
25/06/2021 - 02/07/2021	Committee Member	Concurrent Committee of the Committee for Justice and the Committee for Health
01/02/2021 - 28/03/2022	Committee Member	Committee for Health
20/01/2021 - 27/03/2022	Committee Chair	Committee on Procedures
20/01/2021 - 20/09/2021	Committee Member	Chairpersons' Liaison Group
18/01/2021 - 20/01/2021	Committee Member	Committee on Procedures
16/12/2020 - 01/02/2021	Committee Member	Committee for Communities
15/06/2020 - 15/12/2020	Minister	Department for Communities
31/03/2020 - 28/03/2022	Committee Member	Ad Hoc Committee on the COVID-19 Response
05/03/2020 - 18/02/2022	Committee Member	Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights
20/01/2020 - 17/06/2020	Committee Member	Committee for Communities
20/01/2020 - 15/06/2020	Committee Member	Chairpersons' Liaison Group
14/01/2020 - 15/06/2020	Committee Chair	Committee on Procedures
11/01/2020 - 19/01/2020	Committee Member	Business Committee
31/05/2016 - 25/01/2017	Committee Member	Committee for Communities
25/05/2016 - 25/01/2017	Committee Member	Business Committee
16/05/2011 - 30/03/2016	Minister	Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
12/05/2011 - 23/05/2011	Committee Member	Business Committee
14/04/2010 - 25/03/2011	Committee Deputy Chair	Committee for Social Development
14/04/2010 - 25/03/2011	Committee Member	Committee for Justice
18/05/2009 - 25/03/2011	Committee Member	Ad Hoc Committee on the Private Security Industry Order
20/05/2008 - 13/04/2010	Committee Member	Committee for Social Development
09/05/2007 - 19/05/2008	Committee Member	Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
09/05/2007 - 19/05/2008	Committee Member	Assembly and Executive Review Committee
08/05/2007 - 25/03/2011	Committee Member	Business Committee

All Party Group History

Period	Position	All Party Group
15/10/2025 - Present	Assembly Party Group Vice-Chairperson	All-Party Group on LGBTQIA+ Equality
01/07/2022 - Present	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Arts
30/06/2022 - Present	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Learning Disability
29/06/2022 - Present	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Mental Health
28/06/2022 - Present	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Visual Impairment
15/06/2022 - Present	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Cancer
08/06/2022 - Present	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Carers
23/04/2024 - 10/10/2025	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Tourette's
28/06/2022 - 27/06/2025	Assembly Party Group Chairperson	All-Party Group on MS and Neurology
08/06/2021 - 27/03/2022	Assembly Party Group Treasurer	All-Party Group on MS and Neurology
18/02/2021 - 27/03/2022	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Community Pharmacy
04/06/2019 - 27/03/2022	Assembly Party Group Chairperson	All-Party Group on Housing
28/11/2017 - 04/06/2019	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Housing
27/06/2016 - 25/01/2017	Assembly Party Group Member	All Party Group on International Development
20/06/2016 - 25/01/2017	Assembly Party Group Member	All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease
13/03/2013 - 30/03/2016	Assembly Party Group Member	All Party Group on Organ Donation
28/06/2011 - 10/09/2013	Assembly Party Group Member	All Party Group on Children and Young People
21/04/2009 - 28/09/2010	Assembly Party Group Secretary	All Party Group on Community and Voluntary Sector
21/04/2009 - 28/09/2010	Assembly Party Group Secretary	All Party Group on Community and Voluntary Sector
22/08/2008 - 11/07/2009	Assembly Party Group Chairperson	All-Party Group on Cancer
29/04/2008 - 24/03/2011	Assembly Party Group Member	All-Party Group on Disability
18/09/2007 - 29/04/2009	Assembly Party Group Member	All Party Group on Children and Young People

Contacts

Register of Interests

Assembly Questions

Session:

8 Questions, Page 1 of 1

Display All Answers

Note: [R] indicates a registered declaration of interest

Ref No	Member	Question	Tabled	Status
AQO 2445/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the Minister of Education to outline any plans his Department has to support the increased number of post-primary pupils educated through the medium of Irish in Belfast. + Display Answer	18/09/2025	Answered on 30/09/2025
AQW 32069/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the Minister of Education to detail how the Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy addresses access to affordable childcare for those most in need. + Display Answer	25/09/2025	Answered on 01/10/2025
AQW 32068/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the Minister of Education to detail any specific support currently being offered to working families on the lowest incomes, through the Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy funding. + Display Answer	25/09/2025	Answered on 01/10/2025
AQW 32067/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the Minister of Education to outline how the Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy supports families on Universal Credit. + Display Answer	25/09/2025	Answered on 01/10/2025
AQO 2449/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme public consultation. View Official Report for AQO 2449/22-27	18/09/2025	Answered on 30/09/2025
AQO 2422/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how the Clean Air Strategy will address emissions hot spots in Belfast to ensure measurable improvements in public health. View Official Report for AQO 2422/22-27	18/09/2025	Answered on 29/09/2025
AQW 30548/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the Minister of Health to detail why a privately-accessed ADHD diagnosis meets the criteria for Personal Independence Payment but does not meet the criteria for access to ADHD medication. [Priority Written] + Display Answer	08/09/2025	Answered on 16/09/2025
AQO 2286/22-27	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín (SF - North Belfast)	To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill (NIA Bill 15/22-27). View Official Report for AQO 2286/22-27	01/09/2025	Answered on 08/09/2025

Plenary Business

Plenary Item Title	Item	Tabled As	Tabled Date	Plenary Date
Uniting Against Racist and Sectarian Attacks in North Belfast	Matters of the Day	MLA - North Belfast	04/09/2025
Bonfire Regulation	Motion	MLA - North Belfast	02/09/2025	16/09/2025

Votes On Division

Vote Subject	Division Date	Member Voted
The Executive Committee’s Legislation Programme 2025-2026 [First Minister and deputy First Minister	13/10/2025	AYE
-#1 Mother and Baby Unit - Amendment 1: Motion Amendment 1 [Mr Alan Robinson]	07/10/2025	NO
Failure to Transform the Criminal Justice System [Mr Paul Frew]	06/10/2025	AYE
Amendment 8 - Further Consideration Stage: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bil	29/09/2025	NO
-#1 Health and Social Care 2025-26 Pay Awards - Amendment 1: Motion Amendment 1 [Mr Gerry Carroll]	23/09/2025	AYE
-#1 Holding the Irish Government to Account on Legacy - Amendment 1: Motion Amendment 1 [Mr Gerry Ke	23/09/2025	AYE
Holding the Irish Government to Account on Legacy	23/09/2025	AYE
-#2 The Executive’s Approach to Hate - Amendment 2: Motion Amendment 2 [Ms Paula Bradshaw]	22/09/2025	AYE
-#1 The Executive’s Approach to Hate - Amendment 1: Motion Amendment 1 [Mr Paul Frew]	22/09/2025	NO
-#3 A5 Western Transport Corridor Scheme - Amendment 3: Motion Amendment 3 [Mr Robbie Butler]	22/09/2025	NO
-#2 A5 Western Transport Corridor Scheme - Amendment 2: Motion Amendment 2 [Mr Tom Buchanan]	22/09/2025	NO
-#1 A5 Western Transport Corridor Scheme - Amendment 1: Motion Amendment 1 [Miss Nicola Brogan]	22/09/2025	AYE
The Executive’s Approach to Hate	22/09/2025	AYE
Saving Lough Neagh [Mr Matthew O'Toole]	09/09/2025	AYE
Moving Beyond the Windsor Framework [Mr Jonathan Buckley]	08/09/2025	NO
-#1 Moving Beyond the Windsor Framework - Amendment 1: Motion Amendment 1 [Dr Steve Aiken OBE]	08/09/2025	NO

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