Fearghal McKinney (born 6 July 1962 in Derry, Northern Ireland)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 presenterUTV News Presenters 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 at Downtown Radio."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. 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. He has also reported on, introduced television debates about, and co-hosted UTV's coverage of local and general elections.Election 2007 – Election Live UTV TodayElection 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.RTS Programme Award Winners 2006 , rts.org.uk; accessed 15 January 2018.
In January 2009, McKinney announced his departure from UTV, and left the station that month. 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. He was selected to replace Conall McDevitt as MLA for South Belfast and became an MLA on 16 September 2013.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Personal life McKinney is married with three children and lives in Belfast.
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