Quick Info
| Profession | Politician |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish and British |
| Date of Birth | 18/12/1964 |
| Age | 61 years |
| Birthplace | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
Latest News about Carál Ní Chuilín
The Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee on Standards found that Carál Ní Chuilín breached the MLAs' code of conduct by failing to declare an interest connected to a police investigation into damage to a portrait of a DUP peer at Belfast City Hall. The committee accepted her written apology and imposed no sanction, though the commissioner for standards had found the breach was minor. The committee also plans to recommend new guidance on declaring relevant interests for MLAs.
Carál Ní Chuilín raised concerns about a sharp rise in spending on agency workers at the Department for Communities, which had grown by nearly £8 million over the previous year to more than £32 million annually. She argued this pointed to a systemic difficulty in filling full-time roles in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Sinn Féin politician from Belfast who is a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast North and has served as Principal Deputy Speaker since February 2024. She is a former Provisional IRA volunteer and previously held the Culture, Arts and Leisure and Communities ministerial portfolios. |
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| Former Name | Caroline Cullen |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Open University | Studied social sciences and social policy courses, and a postgraduate course in managing voluntary and non-profit organisations |
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| Queen's University Belfast | Listed as an alma mater |
Personal Life
| Residence | New Lodge, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
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Relationships & More
| Spouse | Gerard Magee |
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Family
| Son |
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Career
| Belfast City Council | Represented the Oldpark area for Sinn Féin from 2005 to 2007 |
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| Northern Ireland Assembly | Elected MLA for Belfast North in 2007 and re-elected in subsequent elections, most recently 2022 and continuing in office |
| Sinn Féin Chief Whip | Served from 2007 to 2011 |
| Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure | Served from May 2011 to May 2016 |
| Minister for Communities | Served briefly from 15 June 2020 to 16 December 2020 |
| Principal Deputy Speaker | Assumed office 6 February 2024 |
| Republican ex-prisoner work | Involved in setting up the Coiste na nIarchimí organisation after her release in 1995 and worked as coordinator of Tar Isteach |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Was imprisoned in Maghaberry in 1989 before studying with the Open University while in custody | |
| 2. In 2011, as Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, she was the first senior Sinn Féin representative to attend a Northern Ireland men's football international at Windsor Park | |
| 3. Led Sinn Féin's Liofa campaign promoting the Irish language across Northern Ireland |
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