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MLA pay increase 'on the cards' | MLA pay increase 'on the cards' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Northern Ireland assembly members may be in line for a pay rise after the next assembly election. | Northern Ireland assembly members may be in line for a pay rise after the next assembly election. |
A cross party report, disclosed by the Belfast Telegraph, is recommending MLAs' salaries rise to at least £48,000 after the 2011 assembly election. | |
The current base salary for an MLA is about £43,000, which is £10,000 less than members of the Welsh assembly are paid. | |
The assembly commission report was due to be released at a debate on Monday. | The assembly commission report was due to be released at a debate on Monday. |
It recommends rises for MLAs as well as ministers and other office holders. | |
This is the commission's response to a recommendation by the Senior Salary Review body that MLAs' pay packets should be brought into line with their counterparts in Scotland and Wales. | |
It is understood the commission has deferred the rise until after the next election - and is also proposing that an independent body be set up to make these decisions in future. | |
It is believed the first and deputy first ministers would receive an extra £8,000 each with their salaries rising to £80,000 - on top of their basic assembly salary under the proposals. | |
Sinn Fein assembly member Caral Ni Chuilin said her party was unhappy with some aspects of the report and would oppose the rises. | |
"To support this report in its entirety would therefore force us to support the recommended wage increase," she said. | |
"There are many recommendations in this report which Sinn Fein has welcomed, not least increased transparency in financial matters. | |
"However, this entire report is being brought forward for consideration by the assembly with no opportunity to vote on each and every specific recommendation." | |
Following the newspaper report, an Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson said: "We do not believe that MLAs should be responsible for voting for, or setting, their own salaries. | Following the newspaper report, an Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson said: "We do not believe that MLAs should be responsible for voting for, or setting, their own salaries. |
"It is, and has consistently been, our position that an independent body must undertake this responsibility, as is the practice in Westminster, Wales and Scotland. | "It is, and has consistently been, our position that an independent body must undertake this responsibility, as is the practice in Westminster, Wales and Scotland. |
"Importantly, however, such an increase would not take effect until 2011 - if the electorate don't think their MLA is worth their existing salary, or indeed an extra £7,000, then they should absolutely vote for a different candidate in the next election." | "Importantly, however, such an increase would not take effect until 2011 - if the electorate don't think their MLA is worth their existing salary, or indeed an extra £7,000, then they should absolutely vote for a different candidate in the next election." |
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