Stormont declines to debate halting MLA pay rise
24 October 2011
TUV leader Jim Allister has complained that an attempt by him to seek a debate on halting consideration of a pay rise for MLAs has been thwarted.
“In these tough times people across Northern Ireland are feeling the financial squeeze; many are without jobs and many in employment live under pay freezes. I am sure, therefore, that ordinary members of the public have been surprised by the indications in recent days that MLAs though are set to receive a pay increase – in spite of the fact that months after an election we have no Programme for Government, no government legislation and debate only motions on such weighty matters as ‘weed control’, which bind no one. For a supposed ‘legislative assembly’, Stormont’s output has been nil.
“How, therefore, a pay increase could be warranted is beyond my comprehension.
“Last Friday (21st October) I attempted to table the following motion, aimed at suspending any consideration of a pay rise:
"That this Assembly, given the severe austerity being endured by our constituents, instructs the Assembly Commission to suspend the work of the Independent Review on MLAs’ salaries."
“However, I have been informed by the Business Office that the motion will not be accepted because, while the Assembly Commission approved the appointments of those who are carrying out the pay review, they have no power to suspend it! This is incredible and goes back to legislation the last Assembly passed in order to put MLAs in the position of denying ownership of any proposed pay increase.
“Thus we have a convenient situation where MLAs will claim that they had no control over receiving the pay rise! The Assembly should be master of its own affairs in this regard, but, instead, I find it can’t, or won’t, even debate the issue. What a farce!”
