Joint Statement from the NI Assembly and the Independent Review Panel

JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE NI ASSEMBLY AND THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL REVIEW PANEL

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission and the Independent Financial Review Panel share the aim of ensuring that the system of financial support for MLAs is transparent and robust and allows elected Members to work effectively on behalf of their constituents.

Both organisations recognise the negative impact which recent publicity has had on public confidence in these arrangements. We acknowledge that there are differences on the interpretation and implementation of the Panel's March 2012 Determination. We are both committed to working together to address this within our separate and distinct responsibilities.

The Panel aim to publish their next Determination in March 2016. The Assembly Commission will produce a new Members' Handbook based on that Determination and will also take account of any recommendations from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) update of its peer review report. The new Handbook will then be independently quality assured by IPSA and published for the start of the new Assembly mandate in May 2016.

ENDS