Sir Reg Empey: A profile

Sir Reg: Has been at David Trimble's side throughout negotiations

David Trimble, who resigned as first minister at midnight on 30 June, has appointed Ulster Unionist Sir Reg Empey, to fufil the functions of the office of first minister.

BBC News Online profiles the man who has been one of the Ulster Unionist leader's strongest supporters.

Sir Reg Empey is used to holding the reins of power.

A former lord mayor of Belfast, the senior Ulster Unionist Party member is Northern Ireland's minister for enterprise, trade and investment.

During the delicate talks leading up to the Good Friday Agreement, he acted as a senior UUP negotiator.

He has played an instrumental role in the subsequent negotiations surrounding the impasse over arms decommissioning.

Hand on baton

BBC Northern Ireland's political correspondent Mark Simpson said: "Although he wouldn't be called first minister, he would step into David Trimble's shoes for that six-week limbo period."

Sir Reg has been a key UUP negotiator

He added: "I think David Trimble could be on borrowed time if he is not re-elected as first minister and there is no deal in the next few weeks.

Good effect

"He would be seen by his critics as a leader with a failed policy and it would be very difficult to hang on to office."

Sir Reg owns a clothing business in Belfast and has used his commercial experience to good effect in overseeing the Northern Ireland economy.

Born in Belfast in 1947, he was educated at the Royal School in Armagh and at Queen's University in Belfast.

He is married with one son and a daughter.

Sir Reg was was elected to the Northern Ireland Convention in 1975, becoming a member of Belfast City Council in 1985.

He served as the city's lord mayor in 1989, and again in 1993.

Peace talks

Now a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, he represents the constituency of East Belfast.

The leading UUP figure was a member of the party's negotiating team in the Brooke-Mayhew peace talks in 1991.

Sir Reg has been a member of the European Committee of the Regions since 1994 and vice president of the Ulster Unionist Council since 1996.

He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1994 for services to local government.

Sir Reg was appointed Northern Ireland's minister for enterprise, trade and investment in 1999 and was knighted last year.