AQW 11192/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 01/05/2024
Answered On Date: 15/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Assembly Commission for an update on discussions in relation to when any independent review panels will be recruited.

Answer:

The Independent Financial Review Panel (IFRP) was not reconstituted when the term of the outgoing panel members expired on 1 July 2016. In the last Assembly mandate, the Assembly Commission introduced the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill on 14 December 2020 which, amongst other things, sought to rename the IFRP as the Renumeration Board and remove its power and responsibility for determining the allowances payable to Members. This followed the conferral of power on the Assembly Commission to make determinations on Members' allowances, by the Assembly on 30 June 2020.

While the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill was introduced it was not progressed to second stage, as the Assembly Commission was mindful of prioritising legalisation associated with or arising from COVID-19.

Following the resumption of normal Assembly business and the reconstitution of the Assembly Commission in February 2024, the Assembly Commission reconsidered the draft Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill at its first meeting on 19 March 2024. At that meeting, the Assembly Commission asked officials to prepare a further paper and a revised Bill for consideration at its next meeting, which is scheduled for 16 May 2024.