[ad_1]
The £ 49,500 of salaries for the Northern Ireland Assembly will be reduced by almost £ 14,000, beginning with a £ 7,425 reduction in November and an additional £ 6,187 reduction three months later.
The action is reported in a statement made by Secretary of State Karen Bradley in the House of Commons.
The cuts are in line with the recommendations made last year by former General Director of the Assembly, Trevor Reaney.
Reaney reported to Northern Secretary James Brokenshire in December 2017.
This decision is part of a series of interventions planned by the British government, since Stormont has been closed for more than twenty months.
Conscious that a court decision on the political stalemate is due next week, Ms. Bradley decided to intervene.
It urges the UK Government to take measures that will allow Northern Ireland officials to make political decisions in the absence of an operational government.
Bradley also promises to speak with the Irish government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to explore how power-sharing could be restored.
She also indicated that she would be looking into whether "external facilitation" could help break the current political stalemate.
The state secretary may have taken her initiative today because of a court decision that is due to be rendered in Belfast next week.
His inaction and his inability to call elections are disputed.
The series of measures announced in his statement to the House of Commons includes a commitment to introduce legislation in October, outlining a new, specific election date.
This action could provide the British government with "political assurance" and "room for maneuver" in the event of a court challenge next week.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that this announcement "underscores the seriousness of the absence of decentralized institutions in Northern Ireland".
In a statement, Coveney said that calls for the functioning of decentralized institutions should be taken into account.
UUP chief Robin Swann called Dr. Bradley's statement "plaster" on a huge political mess.
"This is the inevitable consequence of the current political stalemate that has prevented the formation of a fully functioning Assembly and Executive Committee," he said.
Alliance leader Naomi Long said Ms. Bradley's intervention was long overdue.
She said, "The public's anger at the political drift is increasing, so if the Secretary of State is convinced that what she has described today will be the catalyst to get things done, especially with regard to Regarding the key decisions required, then it is to be welcomed.
"Due to the inability to make strategic decisions, the investment is stuck at £ 2 billion and it is imperative that the Secretary of State's proposals release it urgently."
Additional reporting: PA
[ad_2]Source link
