Iris Robinson

Iris Robinson (née Collins; born 6 September 1949) is a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician in Northern Ireland.

She married Peter Robinson on 26 July 1970.

They were the first husband and wife ever to represent Northern Ireland constituencies in Parliament at the same time.

They have three grown-up children: Jonathan, Gareth and Rebekah.

Gareth Robinson is also a former Councillor on Castlereagh Borough Council.

Outside politics Robinson listed her interests as charity fundraising for multiple sclerosis, interior design and horseriding.

Robinson was first elected councillor for Castlereagh Borough Council in 1989, and served as Mayor in 1992 and 1995.

Robinson was first elected councillor for Castlereagh (borough) in 1989.

She became the Council's first woman mayor in 1992 and served as mayor again in 1995.

She was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue from 1995 to 1997.

She was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue from 1995 to 1997.

In 1998 she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Democratic Unionist Party as member for Strangford, acting as Deputy Whip and health spokesperson.

She was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998, representing the constituency of Strangford.

She acted as the DUP health spokesperson.

She was elected as DUP Member of Parliament for Strangford at the 2001 general election, replacing the Ulster Unionist Party's John Taylor.

Robinson was elected as the DUP Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Strangford at the 2001 general election, replacing the Ulster Unionist Party's John Taylor.

She was re-elected at the 2005 general election.

Robinson describes herself as a born-again Christian, and has publicly stated that "the government has the responsibility to uphold God's laws".

She was re-elected at the 2005 general election.

Since taking up her seat in the House of Commons, Robinson has voted in 32 per cent of votes in parliament, below the average among MPs. In her maiden speech she spoke about the "betrayal" felt by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, criticising the Government's policy on policing.

Robinson's voting record shows that she voted strongly against introducing foundation hospitals, very strongly for the Iraq War, moderately for an investigation into said war, voted moderately against LGBT rights, and never voted on transparent Parliament or on replacing Trident.

Robinson also voted for Labour's 42-day terror detention, part of the Counter-Terrorism Bill.

Robinson was suspended from Stormont for a day on 19 November 2007 after refusing to withdraw "unparliamentary" comments she had made about the health minister, Michael McGimpsey.

She is married to Peter Robinson, who was First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2008 to 2016.

In light of this, she was criticised for her views on homosexuality in 2008.

In an interview with the Sunday Tribune in April 2008, anticipating becoming "First Lady" of Northern Ireland, Iris spoke out against Hillary Clinton alluding to her husband's affair with Monica Lewinsky: "No woman would put up with what she tolerated from her husband when he was president. She was thinking only of her future political career. It's all about power and not principle."

In June 2008, shortly after a physical assault on a homosexual man in Northern Ireland, she made comments on the BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show offering to recommend homosexuals to psychiatric counselling.

While condemning the attack, she called homosexuality an "abomination" that made her feel "sick" and "nauseous", and offered to refer homosexuals to a psychiatrist she knew.

In a subsequent interview, Robinson defended her views and denied prejudice against homosexuals, saying that "just as a murderer can be redeemed by the blood of Christ, so can a homosexual.... If anyone takes issue, they're taking issue with the word of God".

Her comments were rebuffed by representatives of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Rainbow Project, the Alliance Party, Sinn Féin, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

The psychiatrist in question, Dr. Paul Miller later resigned as her adviser and stood down from his post of consultant psychiatrist at Belfast's Mater hospital.

In December 2009, Robinson announced that she would leave politics and withdraw from public life following prolonged periods of mental illness.

In January 2010, it emerged that Robinson had an extramarital affair with a 19-year-old in 2008, and she and her husband were faced with allegations of financial impropriety related to the affair.

It was announced on 9 January 2010 that her membership of the DUP had been terminated, and that she would stand down from elected office.

On 12 January 2010 she resigned from the Northern Ireland Assembly, and on 13 January 2010, she resigned from the House of Commons and from Castlereagh Borough Council.

The oldest of seven children, Iris Collins was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to Mary McCarten and Joseph Collins, an English soldier.

She grew up in a working-class area in the east of the city.

She describes herself as a born again Christian and attends Metropolitan Tabernacle Church in Belfast.

She comes from family with a mixed religious background as ten of her first cousins are Roman Catholics.

She attended Cregagh Primary School, Knockbreda Intermediate School and Cregagh Technical College before becoming a secretary.