Northern Ireland politicians are only back to work since January 11th but they’re getting a nice pay increase for their troubles.
They’re all in line for a £1,000 increase in their annual wages following the restoration of power-sharing.
The normal salary of an assembly member is now £50,500 per year – an increase on the £49,500 they received at the time of Stormont’s collapse.
This improvement is the result of annual increases in inflation that have not been implemented in the three years without a delegated government.
The British government had previously cut the MLAs salaries in two stages to £ 35,888 as the executive and assembly were no longer present.
Salary reductions for the speaker, affiliated speakers and meeting committee members were also lifted after the return.
The Speaker earns £ 88,500 a year and the three vice-presidents £ 56,500.
Members of the Assembly Committee, responsible for ensuring that the Assembly has the staff and facilities necessary to carry out its work, also receive £ 56,500.
MLAs who chair legal committees or the audit committee earn £ 62,500 per year.
The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers receive £ 122,500 per year, while the other Ministers receive £ 88,500 and the Juniors £ 56,500.
However all five main party leaders have stipulated that they think the money should go to charity. A review meeting will take place today in relation to the increase.
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