New Health Minister in Northern Ireland after three year interval

New Health Minister in Northern Ireland after three year interval

Three years after the Northern Ireland government collapsed in 2017, the parties have agreed to form a new coalition, headed by First Minister, Arlene Foster (DUP) and Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill. The new Health Minister is the Ulster Unionist Party’s Robin Swann MLA, who until recently headed his party.

Despite resigning as Leader two months ago saying he needed to spend more time with his family, Robin Swann takes over a formidable task at Health with nurses on the verge of striking and, in dentistry, problems concerning dentists’ pay and the need for a new Oral Health Strategy.

Swann was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the constituency of Antrim North in 2011 and re-elected in 2016 and 2017. He was his party’s leader from April 2017 until November last year. He is aged 48, with a wife and two children.

Previously the health portfolio has been held by the DUP, this is a first for the Ulster Unionist Party.

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