Image copyright PA Image caption James Brokenshire is being urged to introduce the pay cut in two stages, so as not to impact on MLAs' 'personal circumstances'

The Northern Ireland Secretary has been advised to cut MLAs' salaries by £13,612 in the absence of a sitting Assembly at Stormont.

But James Brokenshire is being urged to introduce the cut in two stages, so as not to impact on Assembly members' "personal circumstances".

It is one of 18 proposals from the former Assembly Chief Executive Trevor Reaney, published on Wednesday.

It also includes reducing staff allowances in the future.

The recommendations come almost a year after the Northern Ireland executive collapsed over a botched green energy scheme.

Their coalition collapsed in January, and despite months of negotiations, the two biggest parties - the DUP and Sinn Féin - have not agreed a deal to restore power-sharing.

During Northern Ireland Question Time, Mr Brokenshire welcomed Mr Reaney's advice and said he would consider it carefully.

He also reiterated his commitment to re-establishing an executive at Stormont in the New Year.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since January

'Stepped approach'

Mr Reaney was asked by Mr Brokenshire for advice on what should happen to MLAs' pay and expenses while Stormont is in shutdown.

Mr Brokenshire said he plans to consider the guidance "carefully" before responding.

Mr Reaney has proposed cutting the MLA salary from £49,500 to £35,888, with an immediate cut of £7,425 followed by a further reduction of £6,187 in three months time.

Image copyright Press Eye Image caption SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon said "no one should be paid a full salary if they are not doing a full job"

In explaining the need for a "stepped approach", he said public frustration with a non-functioning assembly will continue to increase, but he had to acknowledge the impact of any salary reduction on MLAs' personal circumstances.

Cutting MLA salaries is a crowd pleaser at a time when public services are strapped for cash, but it is a risky strategy.

This was a balancing act for Trevor Reaney - cutting enough to satisfy a frustrated public and leaving enough to keep MLAs in post should the assembly return.

Mr Reaney said research shows MLA's spend 50% to 60% of their time on constituency work and the average working week of an elected member "exceeds 50 hours and can extend up to 80 hours".

He also proposed deferring future annual pay increases for MLAs until the assembly is restored.

They were due to receive an extra £500 in April.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government for almost a year

Assembly speaker Robin Newton will face an annual salary cut from £87,500 to £55,848 if Mr Reaney's proposals are adopted by the secretary of state.

If there is no return to devolved government by the end of March, Mr Reaney has proposed cutting MLAs' staff allowance from £50,000 to £37,500 - which may result in job cuts.

Political reaction

SDLP MLA Nicola Mallon told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that "no one should be paid a full salary if they are not doing a full job".

She added: "You couldn't blame anyone for thinking this is a fair thing to do."

Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption David Ford was the former leader of the Alliance party

Alliance MLA David Ford said the report "makes it clear that if you want MLAs to be around to engage in negotiations, to ensure the restoration of the Assembly, then you have to have some level of salary".

A DUP spokesperson said: "If there's no prospect of devolution returning then it's inevitable that this will need to be considered - it will be a matter for the secretary of state."

Sinn Féin said: "If the Assembly is not re-established in the short term, then we are firmly of the view that the current arrangements need to be reviewed."

A UUP spokesperson said that while the report "accurately reflects the situation and shift in workload of MLAs", the party was concerned "about the proposal to cut office expenses available to pay staff".

"Through no fault of their own they are going to suffer due to Sinn Féin and the DUP's inability to form a stable government," added the spokesperson.

Image copyright AFP

A former member of the Pay Review Panel, which is used to set MLA's pay, welcomed the report's findings, but voiced concern about the lack of a time frame for implementation.

"The bottom line is, if there is no time limit, then we get back to a position we were in before from 2003-2007, when the Assembly was prorogued - we paid the salaries and expenses of the assembly members for doing nothing effectively," said Alan McQuillan.

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