Who is John McCallister?

Hello. Voted by the people of South Down to represent you in the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, I am John McCallister - your Ulster Unionist Party MLA.

I consider politics and public representation as a vocation, and I view the role of MLA as being one of, service and leadership for the people in the South Down constituency.

That aside, I am a 36 year old self-employed dairy farmer from the outskirts of Rathfriland, Co Down. I have extensive knowledge of the industry and the wider needs of the rural community, believing that our local countryside plays a vital role in our social fabric, economy and community.

As a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Health & Social Services Committee as well as the Regional Development Committee; I strive to promote a positive, progressive and youthful vision for the future development of South Down and Northern Ireland as a whole. Energy, commitment, ability to relate to people, and critically - a strategy to get YOU the electorate, out to vote, are pivotal factors in determining my success.

About Me:

John McCallister, Age: 36
Constituency: South Down

Educational background:

Glaskermore Primary School
Rathfriland High School
Greenmount Agricultural College - Agriculture, farm management, milk and beef production

Employment:

Self employed Dairy Farmer on family farm and currently milking approx 140 cows.
Presently investing in Farm Nutrient Management and New Entrants scheme.
1996 to date : Representative for Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) at European level.
1996 - 2001 : Vice President of YFCU.
2001 - 2003 : Deputy President of YFCU
2003 - 2005 : President of YFCU
2003 - 2005 : Director of Rural Support Charity


UUP Membership:

Annaclone branch of the UUP
Secretary of South West Down Association
Member of the UUP Agricultural Policy team & Appointed as Assistant Whip of the UUP Assembly Team in June 2009


Northern Ireland Assembly - Committee Membership...

Member of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Statutory Committee. The committee was established to advise and assist the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Michael McGimpsey MLA, on matters within his responsibility as a Minister. The committee undertakes a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role with respect to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and plays a key role in the consideration and development of legislation.

Member of the Education Committee. The committee was established to advise and assist the Minister for Education, Caitríona Ruane MLA, on matters within her responsibility as a Minister. The committee undertakes a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role with respect to the Department of Education and plays a key role in the consideration and development of legislation.

Other Community Interests:

• Fields of Life fundraiser - Participated in Lake Victoria Boat row as support team to Mr Ian Harvey in 2003.
• Lifetime member of Glascar Presbyterian Church (1980 - 1993 member of Boys Brigade)
• Member of Ulster Farmers Union - currently the Vice Chairman of South West Down UFU group.
• Member of UFU Executive (1999 to date)
• Member of Royal Ulster Agricultural Society
• Member of Newry Agricultural Show Committee
• Committee member of the Greenmount Association
• In my spare time I enjoy hill walking, rugby and amateur dramatics.
  
  
  Other Accolades:
  
  
• Full / clean Northern Ireland driving licence
• Queens Badge (BB)
• Duke of Edinburgh Award - Gold
• YFCU : Represented N. Ireland at European Rally 1995 / 2003 / 2004
• YFCU : Represented N. Ireland in Canada on Exchange Trip
• YFCU : Northern Ireland amateur drama award
  
  
  Important Issues:
  
  Schools, hospitals, infrastructure, farming, fishing, food, Mourne National Park are important issues to me.
  
  
  John's Vision:
  
  John McCallister, the Ulster Unionist Party Representative for the South Down Constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly, believes he has what it takes to represent the Constituency in the challenging times ahead.
  
  John will bring the same enthusiasm and ability to the role of MLA for South Down that he displayed during his time as President of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster and will represent and deliver for the people of the constituency the same way he did for the YFCU.
  
  A young man, John brings a wealth of experience in the political arena gained from representing the views and concerns of the YFCU membership on agricultural and wider social and rural issues.
  
  He is part of the UUP advisory group on Agriculture and Rural Development. Coming from a local farming family, John is well aware of the difficulties facing the Northern Ireland farming community - increasing bureaucracy, poor returns for food that is increasingly expensive to produce to the high standards of traceability, quality and welfare required by the EU, central government and the supermarkets.
  
  It is up to the politicians elected by the people to form a government and deliver for all the people of Northern Ireland. The Union is agreed, that is part of the Belfast Agreement. Republicans can aspire to a united Ireland, but they have to use democracy to achieve it. Lets sort out the bread and butter issues like education and health care that effect us all so much and deliver a better life for all the people of Northern Ireland.