The office of Speaker is currently held (since February 2024) by the MLA for Belfast South Edwin Poots of the Democratic Unionist Party.

The first person to hold the position was Lord Alderdice, appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 1998.

Eileen Bell held the office of Speaker in the Assembly established under the Northern Ireland Act 2006 which met between May and October 2006 and in the Transitional Assembly established under the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 which met between November 2006 and May 2007.

[4] Sinn Féin deputy speaker Francie Molloy was subsequently elected to the new position in June 2011.

The oldest (by age) Member of the Assembly (see Father of the House) who is not seeking the appointment oversees the election as acting speaker.