CONSULTATION ON NI ASSEMBLY MEMBERS’ SALARIES AND OFFICE HOLDER ALLOWANCES, OFFICE EXPENSES AND PENSIONS
Introduction
The Independent Financial Review Panel was established by the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to determine the salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities payable to members and former members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Patrick McCartan is Chair of the Independent Financial Review Panel with Alan McQuillan and Dr Henrietta Campbell as the other two members. Mr McCartan is Chairman of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and former Chairman of North & West Belfast Health & Social Services Trust.
Dr Campbell was previously the Chief medical Officer for Northern Ireland and is currently a UK Electoral Commissioner. She was a member of the Prison Services Pay Review Body from 2006 to March 2011. Dr Campbell sits on the Board of the Food Standards Agency, Oxfam Ireland, the Ulster Cancer Foundation and Threshold.
Mr McQuillan is an independent management and security consultant. He was Acting Deputy Chief Constable in PSNI until 2003 when he retired to join the newly formed Assets Recovery Agency. He helped establish and develop the Agency across the UK and in 2007 was appointed as Director to manage its merger with the Serious and Organised Crime Agency.
All Panel members were appointed on 1 July 2011 and will serve a five year term.
Functions of the IFRP
The functions of the Independent Financial Review Panel are to make determinations in relation to the salaries and allowances payable to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly under section 47 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and also the pensions, gratuities and allowances payable under section 48 of that Act.
In exercising its functions, the Panel is required to:
- Ensure probity, accountability and value for money with respect to the expenditure of public funds;
- Secure for Assembly members a level of remuneration which fairly reflects the complexity and importance of their functions and does not, on financial grounds, deter people with the necessary commitment and ability from seeking election to the Assembly, and,
- Secure for Assembly members adequate resources to enable them to exercise their functions as members of the Assembly.The Panel is fully independent and is not
The Panel is fully independent and is not subject to the control of either the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Assembly Commission.
The Panel is a public authority for the purposes of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.