During his first term as Minister of Health,Swann led Northern Ireland's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His handling of the crisis was widely praised,leading Swann to top the poll in North Antrim at the 2022 Assembly election.[2]
Early life
Robin Swann's mother Ida was a hospitalcleaner and his father Brian a plumber. He has a younger brother called David.
Swann contracted asthma at a young age as he was "born in an old farmhouse riddled with damp." When he was two years old,Swann's family moved to a housing executive house in Kells in County Antrim.
His great uncle led the Cromkill Pipe Band,a small rural country band. Swann learned to play the bagpipes as "it was just an interest I took at 17 to do something different."
Whenever Swann was 19,his grandfather Samuel Mawhinney,who was a farmer,died from a heart attack at the age of 68. Swann took the death "very badly" as his grandfather was his "role model."
Education and employment
Swann attended Kells and Connor Primary,then Ballymena Academy,after which he got a job at McQuillan Meats from 1989 to 1993. Swann did not attend university,although he did later do an Open University science degree.
Swann worked for SGS,a multinational inspection and testing company based in Switzerland,before becoming an MLA.[3]
Political career
Robin Swann was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011 in the North Antrim constituency.[4] Swann successfully defended his seat in the 2016 Assembly election,and at the snap election in March 2017,where he was the first unionist elected in North Antrim.[5] Swann was elected Ulster Unionist leader in April 2017;he resigned in November 2019 in order to spend more time with his family.[4]
Swann came second in the North Antrim constituency in the 2019 Westminster election,with double the UUP vote of the previous election.[4]
In the 2022 Assembly election Swann went on to top the North Antrim poll.[6] His increased vote was attributed to his work as health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic. Swann credited his success to the work of those in the health service.[7]
Swann introduced the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill,or "Dáithí's Law" in the Assembly in 2021.[11] It was named after six-year-old DáithíMac Gabhann from Belfast,who needs a heart transplant. The legislation came into effect on 1 June 2023 and introduced an opt-out system,meaning people would automatically become donors unless they stated otherwise.[12]
On 2 February 2022 a 44-year-old man was charged with threatening to kill Swann,harassment and improper use of a telecommunications network.[13]
The High Court dismissed a £100m lawsuit against NI politicians over Covid-19 regulations in December 2022.[14] Swann has been called as a participant in the UK Covid Inquiry[15] at the hearing to Module 1 he said "Failed reforms hindered NI Covid response."[16]
On 3 February 2024,Swann was reappointed Minister for Health following the formation of the Executive of the 7th Northern Ireland Assembly. Swann's appointment revealed a split within the UUP,[18] with Andy AllenMLA criticising his return as Swann was already confirmed as a Westminster candidate. Allen argued that "we need a health minister with their full focus on the task at hand,not one eye on WM (Westminster).”[19] Following his appointment,Swann wrote to trade unions inviting them to early discussions.
February 2024
Robin Swann meeting staff at the Ulster Hospital on 5 Feb. 2024
Swann paid tribute to staff in Northern Ireland’s dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre at an event marking 10 years since its opening on 7 February 2024. Also on 7 February 2024,Swann asked officials to look “urgently”at planned bed cuts at the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.[21]
On 9 February 2024,Swann confirmed that he will reinstate £85,000 funding for the Children's Hospice,in a move which defined the beginning of his tenure.[22]
In the Assembly,on 13 February 2024,Swann revealed that a Women's Health Action Plan is being developed by the health department,paving the way for a longer-term comprehensive Women's Health Strategy.
On 15 February 2024,Swann announced that publicly funded IVF treatment will increase to one full cycle for eligible women.[23]
On 20 February 2024,Swann wrote to the BMA Junior Doctors Committee in relation to planned industrial action next month.[24] He also emphasised that hospital waiting lists cannot be tackled in isolation from other issues facing the health service,remarking that “piecemeal interventions”alone will not be sufficient.[25]
Swann visited the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) team at the Junction in Antrim on 23 February 2024 as part of NICHS Heart Month.[26]
On 26 February 2024,Swann welcomed the decision by health service trade unions to ballot members on a proposed pay settlement for 2023–24. He stated that "this is a positive step..." towards his key priority of resolving pay disputes.[27] On the same day,Swann praised GPs for committing to student training.[28]
In a keynote speech,Swann warned of an “extremely difficult and worsening”financial position for health and social care services on 27 February 2024. He remarked that "waiting lists are beyond unacceptable. They cry out for action and I will pursue every feasible opportunity to improve the situation."[29]
Robin Swann showing his support on World Down Syndrome Day by wearing odd socks on 21 March 2024
On 4 March 2024,Swann launched the HSC Raising a Concern in the Public Interest (Whistleblowing) Framework &Model Policy. He said that it will facilitate the implementation of policies and procedures within the HSC to fully support staff in raising concerns.[32] He also confirmed a one-year extension of the Department of Health's contract with Nexus for specialist counselling services for victims of sexual abuse.[33]
Swann confirmed that Northern Ireland will be included in new transformational laws to tackle youth smoking and vaping on 5 March 2024.[34] He also announced support from the Department of Health for a large scale public listening exercise on women’s health. [35]
On 11 March 2024,Swann launched the Bereaved NI website,offering support for anyone experiencing bereavement.[36]
Swann officially opened a newly renovated GP practice in County Antrim,Toome Surgery,following a £600,000 investment from the Department of Health on 14 March 2024.[37] He also addressed the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee,stating that an 'inadequate budget will have real-life consequences.'[38]
On 21 March 2024,Swann praised the innovation and teamwork of staff at the Elective Overnight Stay Centre in Belfast’s Mater Hospital.[39]
Swann unveiled a £70m support package for social care providers and hospices on 22 March 2024.[40]
On 26 March 2024,Swann sought a deferral on hospital car parking charges legislation.[41]
Swann announced a £9.2m investment in dental access initiatives for 2024/25 on 27 March 2024. The investment is aimed at bolstering support for dental practices and protecting public access to health service dental care.[42]
On 28 March 2024,Swann praised a new ambulatory unit at Causeway Hospital that will help reduce admission and ED attendances.[43]
Swann praised the innovative thinking at the Centre for Genomic Medicine and highlighted the need to address genomic healthcare challenges while on a visit on 29 March 2024.[44]
April 2024
Robin Swann speaking to Mark Carruthers on Sunday Politics on 21 April 2024
On 21 April 2024,Swann announced his intention to step down as health minister before the Westminster election campaign.[45] He will be the candidate for South Antrim in the next general election.[46]
Personal life
Robin Swann is "5ft 3in-ish" tall.[47] He and his wife Jennifer have a daughter and a son. Their son was born with a congenital heart defect,and while in Birmingham,Swann recorded the events in a personal blog.[48]
Swann has served as president and County Antrim Chairman of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster. He has chaired the YFCU's National Executive and Rural Affairs Committees and has been Chairman of the Rural Youth Europe organisation.[49] A former member of Cromkill Pipe Band,Swann was elected a Honorary Vice President of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland.[50] In 2023 Swann was elected Honorary President of the Farmers' Choir Northern Ireland.[51]
Robin Swann has described himself as "pro-life and ... on record as such."[53] In 2021,Swann defended the delay to introducing full abortion services in Northern Ireland as he could not "set it up without support from the Stormont Executive."[54]
Electoral history
Election
Constituency
Votes
%
Elected
Comment
Assembly 2007
North Antrim
1,281
2.89%
Not elected
1st run
Assembly 2011
North Antrim
2,518
6.26%
Elected
5th of 6
Assembly 2016
North Antrim
3,585
8.74%
Elected
5th of 6
Assembly 2017
North Antrim
6,022
12.52%
Elected
2nd of 5,1st unionist elected
Westminster 2019
North Antrim
8,139
18.5%
Not elected
runner up,increased vote by 11.3%
Assembly 2022
North Antrim
9,530
18.83%
Elected
1st of 5,topped poll
Westminster 2024
South Antrim
Switched constituencies from North Antrim to South Antrim
Awards
Swann was Awarded Politician of the Year 2022,by Civility in Politics,an award he shared with Chris Bryant MP.[55]
July 2023 Swann was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists,fellowships are awarded annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to psychiatry. "Robin Swann was awarded for championing mental healthcare and working closely with psychiatrists in Northern Ireland to address the enormous treatment gap that still exists."[56]
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