Fearghal McKinney

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix =

|name = Fearghal McKinney

|image = Fearghal McKinney MLA.jpg

|alt =

|caption =

|office = Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party

|leader = Colum Eastwood

|term_start = 14 November 2015

|term_end = 2016

|predecessor = Dolores Kelly

|successor = Nichola Mallon

|office2 = Member of the Legislative Assembly
for South Belfast

|assembly2 = Northern Ireland

|majority2 =

|term_start2 = 16 September 2013

|term_end2 = 5 May 2016

|predecessor2 = Conall McDevitt

|successor2 = Clare Bailey

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|07|06|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Derry, Northern Ireland

|death_date =

|death_place =

|restingplace =

|spouse = Maire

|children = 3

|nationality = Irish

|residence = Belfast, Northern Ireland

|profession = Journalist

|party = SDLP

|website = }}

Fearghal McKinney (born 6 July 1962 in Derry, Northern Ireland)[https://web.archive.org/web/20020711080445/http://u.tv/television/people/showprofile.asp?peopleid=7 Fearghal McKinney's profile on u.tv] WebArchive.org is an Irish politician and former journalist. A member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), he sat in the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for South Belfast from 2013 until his defeat at the 2016 Assembly election. He was deputy leader of the SDLP from 2015 to 2016.

Broadcasting career

McKinney was a reporter and presenter[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/people/news_utvnews.html UTV News Presenters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423125830/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/people/news_utvnews.html|date=23 April 2010}} UTV Today on UTV Live, joining the station in 1994. Before joining UTV, he was a journalist at The Impartial Reporter in his hometown of Enniskillen and Downtown Radio.[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article892535.ece "Interview: So who cut your hair, son?"] Belfast Telegraph, 2 April 2003; accessed 16 June 2008 McKinney was educated at St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The Fermanagh Herald. [http://fermanaghherald.com/2013/09/mckinney-wins-south-belfast-mla-seat/ McKinney wins South Belfast MLA seat]. 12 September 2013; accessed 14 July 2016.

In addition to his work for UTV Live, McKinney presented the series Sunday Issue and The Issue for UTV from 2003 to 2004.{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/38944|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928162441/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/38944|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2012|title=Sunday Issue (TV series)|website=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk|accessdate=16 January 2018}} He has also reported on, introduced television debates about, and co-hosted UTV's coverage of local and general elections.[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/news/election07/electionlive/studio.html Election 2007 – Election Live] UTV Today[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/news/election07/utvdebate.html Election 2007 – The UTV Debate], UTVToday.co.uk; accessed 15 January 2018. McKinney was nominated in 2006 for the RTS Award for Nations and Regions Presenter.[http://www.rts.org.uk/Information_page_+_3_pic_det.asp?id=5726 RTS Programme Award Winners 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118212445/http://www.rts.org.uk/Information_page_+_3_pic_det.asp?id=5726 |date=18 January 2008 }}, rts.org.uk; accessed 15 January 2018.

In January 2009, McKinney announced his departure from UTV, and left the station that month.[https://archive.today/20120905012106/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Two-popular-faces-leaving-UTV.4892112.jp "Two popular faces leaving UTV"] News Letter, 20 January 2009; accessed 15 January 2018.

Political career

McKinney unsuccessfully contested the Parliamentary constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 2010 Westminster general election for the Social Democratic and Labour Party.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8558981.stm|title=Former UTV man Fearghal McKinney to seek SDLP selection |date=10 March 2010|accessdate=10 March 2010|work=BBC News}} He was selected to replace Conall McDevitt as MLA for South Belfast{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24071332|work=BBC News|title=Fearghal McKinney chosen as MLA to replace SDLP's Conall McDevitt|date=12 September 2013}} and became an MLA on 16 September 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/mckinney-i-would-support-bid-to-remove-ira-hunger-striker-name-from-park-1-5497287|title=McKinney: I would support bid to remove IRA hunger striker name from park|website=Newsletter.co.uk|accessdate=16 January 2018}}

McKinney was appointed SDLP Health Spokesperson sitting on the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. He was also a member of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. On 14 November 2015, he was elected deputy leader of the SDLP.{{cite web|title=SDLP leadership: Colum Eastwood wins contest against Alasdair McDonnell|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34822651|website=BBC News|accessdate=15 January 2018|date=14 November 2015}}

After becoming an MLA, McKinney raised a number of health issues within the Northern Ireland Assembly including the introduction of amendments to ban smoking in cars with children.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/health/mlas-ban-smoking-in-cars-when-children-present-1-7226818|title=MLAs ban smoking in cars when children present|date=23 February 2016|publisher=News Letter|access-date=10 March 2016}} He also tabled a number of motions for debate on the Transforming Your Care plan, on older people's care, autism services, and mental health services.{{Cite web|url=http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/plenary/nodaynamedlist.aspx|title=Northern Ireland Assembly No Day Named List|access-date=10 March 2016}}

On 25 June 2015, McKinney was selected as an SDLP candidate for South Belfast in the Northern Ireland Assembly election on 5 May 2016, but he was unsuccessful in defending the seat he inherited from Conall McDevitt.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}