Sinn Féin - On Your Side

No question of supporting a proposed 16% pay increase

7 February, 2008

Sinn Féin Chief Whip, Carál Ní Chuilín has said that Sinn Féin would not support a recommendation for a 16% pay increase in salaries for Assembly members.

Her comments come after reports that the Senior Salaries Review Board (SSRB) is proposing to increase MLAs pay from £44,000 to over £52,000 a year.

Ms Ní Chuilín said:

"There is no question of Sinn Féin supporting a recommendation to award MLA's a massive 16% pay increase.

"The institutions have been up for less than a year and there is no way to justify such a huge increase, especially when we see nurses and other public sector workers fighting for 2% and 3% pay increases.

"While Sinn Fein elected representatives are not paid anything like £44,000 because our approach to politics is not based on money, we will oppose any attempt to increase this salary to £52,000.

"Sinn Fein will also be asking other Assembly members to reject any attempt to award themselves such a huge pay rise." ENDS

Note to Editor

All Sinn Fein MLA's are paid an average industrial wage. The remainder goes into the party to ensure that we continue to put the people we represent first.

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