Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness Succeeded by Peter Weir Succeeded by Martin McGuinness Siblings Chris O'Dowd | Preceded by Caitríona Ruane Preceded by Martin McGuinness Party Sinn Féin | |
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First Minister Peter Robinson
Arlene Foster Similar Peter Weir, Catherine Seeley, Conor Murphy, Michelle O'Neill Profiles | ||
Northern ireland minister for education john o dowd
John Fitztgerald O'Dowd (born 10 May 1967) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was the Minister for Education in the Stormont Executive from 2011 to 2016 and the Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann since 2003. He briefly took on the duties of deputy First Minister in 2011 while Martin McGuinness ran in the 2011 Irish presidential election.
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Northern ireland minister for education john o dowd at the btyste 2015
Early career
O'Dowd was born in 1967 in a rural community between Lurgan and Banbridge.
O'Dowd previously trained as a chef before engaging in politics. He began his political career serving for 14 years as a councillor on Craigavon Council and previously served as a school governor. O'Dowd has served as Chair of Upper Bann Sinn Féin and a member of the party's Six County Executive, O'Dowd was leader of the Sinn Féin group on Craigavon Council. In 2003 he was elected as MLA for Upper Bann. Between 2007 and 2011 he was Sinn Féin group leader in the Assembly and served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee before becoming a member of the Education Committee in 2008.
Following the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election John O'Dowd was nominated by Sinn Féin to assume the duties of the office for Minister for Education.
Acting Deputy First Minister
Following the decision by Sinn Féin to nominate Martin McGuinness as its candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election, it was announced on 16 September 2011 that O'Dowd would be fulfil the duties of deputy First Minister on a temporary basis. On 31 October 2011, McGuinness resumed his duties as deputy First Minister after finishing third in the Irish presidential election.
Personal life
O'Dowd is married with 3 young children.
