David McIlveen (born 11 February 1981) is a former
Unionist politician from
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
representing the
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a unionist, loyalist, and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who led the party for the next 37 years. Currently led by J ...
(DUP).
McIlveen was elected to the
Northern Ireland Assembly
sco-ulster, Norlin Airlan Assemblie
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for the
North Antrim constituency in 2011.
He is the son of Rev. David McIlveen, a well-known minister in the
Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
:''Distinct from Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)''
The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster ( ga, Eaglais Phreispitéireach Saor Uladh) is a Calvinist denomination founded by Ian Paisley in 1951. Doctr ...
. although he has been largely silent on many of the issues linked to his high-profile father.
McIlveen has a keen interest in conflict studies with particular interest in The Middle East. After welcoming the release of captured Israeli soldier
Gilad Shalit, he made remarks to
The Newsletter claiming Palestinian prisoners were much better treated than Israelis who were snatched at the border by Hamas and given no rights afforded to them in relation to inspections from The Red Cross. Timothy Houston of
Queen's University Belfast
, mottoeng = For so much, what shall we give back?
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, type = Public research university
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's Palestine Solidarity Society published an open letter accusing McIlveen of bias and over-looking human rights abuses.
David McIlveen claims "close ties with Israel" following boyhood visits with his father, and has visited the region both personally and with political delegations on numerous occasions.
From August 2015-May 2017, he was a Political Member of the
Northern Ireland Policing Board.
David McIlveen did not campaign publicly with his party for the 2016 Brexit referendum and described himself as a reformist rather than leave supporter.
Since leaving politics in 2017 McIlveen has returned to private sector and runs various companies mainly aligned to the property sector. He now resides outside of Northern Ireland.
References
1981 births
Living people
Democratic Unionist Party MLAs
Northern Ireland MLAs 2011–2016
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