Parliamentary Career

• Member of Althingi for the Northwest Constituency since 2007.

• Speaker of Althingi 2009.

• Member of the Committee on Social Affairs and Social Security 2007-2009 and 2009(Chairman 2007-2009).

• Member of the Committee on the Budget 2007-2009 and 2009 (Chairman since 2009).

• Member of the Committee on Education 2007-2009.

• Member of the Icelandic delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union since 2009-2010(Vice-Chairman 2009-2010).

• Member of the Icelandic Delegation to the West Nordic Council 2007-2009.

Ministerial Career

• Minister of Welfare since January 2011.

• Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security and Minister of Health September - December 2010.