Biography:

Billy Armstrong was born on 21 June 1943 in Ballynewy, Coagh, Co Londonderry. He is married to Glynis and they have four children and five grandchildren.

Career:
  • Farmer 1958 - present
  • RUC Part-time Reserve Constable 1985 - 1989

    Political Career:
  • Ulster Unionist Member of The Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid-Ulster (1998 - present)
  • Deputy Whip of the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group (current)
  • Member of the Ulster Unionist Party since 1965
  • Delegate to East Tyrone Ulster Unionist Division since 1965
  • Delegate to Mid-Ulster Unionist Association since 1970
  • Delegate to the Ulster Unionist Council since 1994
  • Member of the Ulster Unionist Executive Committee since 1994
  • Chairman of the Stewartstown and Killycolpy Ulster Unionist branch

    Committee Memberships in Northern Ireland Assembly:
  • Committee for Agricultural and Rural Development
  • Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
  • Committee for Environment

    Other Interests:
  • Member of Brigh Presbyterian Church
  • Secretary of Stewartstown Development Association
  • Chairman of Cookstown & Western Shores Area Network
  • Chairman, Board of Governors of Stewartstown Primary Shcool
  • Secretary of Chambre Volunteers LOL 171
  • Chaplain of Tamlaghtmore (Ardboe) RBP 518 (and past Worshipful Master)
  • Member of the Board of Governors of Coagh Primary School

  • Interested in Genealogy



    I believe we should always be looking for ways to improve the quality of life for all the people of Northern Ireland. There is one thing we must also realise is that our young people are the building blocks of any future society, they are the inventors, and entrepreneurs of the future, and their talents and their dedication must be acknowledged, and facilities must be provided to expand their potential within Northern Ireland.

    1. Full-Time Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Member serving all the Constituents of Mid-Ulster.
    2. Only Assembly Member successful in introducing a Private Member’s Bill into the Northern Ireland Assembly.
    3. One of first Assembly Members to have personal website, which is updated weekly, putting Mid-Ulster on the map throughout the world.
    4. In January 2000 made representation to Minister of Agriculture, Mrs Rodgers, regarding a Scheme for REGENERATION OF AGRICULTURE, which would involve both a Retirement Scheme and New Entrants Scheme for Agriculture.
    5. I hosted a presentation delivered by Robert Durward of the British Aggregates Association, at Parliament Buildings in September 2001 making Assembly Members aware of the Proposed Aggregates Tax, a threat to almost 4000 jobs in Northern Ireland.
    6. Visited Boston and New York 2001 to link up local companies taking part in major trade events, which have been organised by Trade International, the export and trade arm of the Industrial Development Board.
    7. Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Member Billy Armstrong for Mid-Ulster campaigns The National Meningitis Mobile from Stroud, England to present an Awareness Seminar in conjunction with Dr Elizabeth Mitchell, Senior Medical Officer with the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland. Wednesday, 21 April 1999 in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.
    8. Billy Armstrong, MLA for Mid-Ulster made the public aware Feb 2000: of so-called ‘club-drugs’ and especially Rohypnol, the date-rape drug:
    9. I was pleased to host a presentation on Biogas Plants from the Steering Group of the Fivemiletown Biogas Project in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Thursday, 30th November 2000 to make Assembly Members and environmentally conscious bodies from across Northern Ireland aware of the benefits of neutralising waste in energy. The multi-purpose approach to handling farm and food wastes into the future.
    10. I have been highlighting that Public Purchasing Bodies are purchasing cheap food imports, I have highlighted DARD officials and Questioned the Minister in early February 2000, Mrs Rodgers could only confirm that she was writing to encourage them to buy locally produced products.
    11. My maiden presentation in the Northern Ireland Assembly was to promote Mid-Ulster and to request support to improve and upgrade the A29 Road, the primary route through Mid-Ulster. In April 2000. Shaping your Future Document recommendation that the Strategy should include the A29 Road in a further category of “link corridors”, and include them on the maps in the Strategy April 2000. The A29 Road runs down the centre of Northern Ireland from Coleraine, through Mid-Ulster and on to Armagh and the A28 to Newry.