Independent Remuneration Board
Minutes of Proceedings - 16 February 2026
Meeting Location: Room 106, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Alan Lowry, Chairperson
Craig Griffiths, Member
Robert Herron, Member
In Attendance:
James Gilsenan, Assembly Clerk
Roisin Donnelly, Secretary
Krystal Clarke, Executive Assistant
Adam Leitch, Legal Adviser, NI Assembly Legal Services (Agenda item 6)
John Hart, Head of Communications, NI Assembly (Agenda item 7)
Paula McClintock, Head of Finance, NI Assembly (Agenda item 8)
The meeting commenced at 9.33am.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Declaration of Interests
No interests were declared in relation to the agenda items listed for the meeting.
3. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson advised that he plans to attend an online meeting of the Remuneration Board Chairs on 24 March 2026.
The Chairperson also advised members that he is meeting with Mr John Hart, Head of Communications, Northern Ireland Assembly.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Board agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2025.
5. Matters Arising
The Board noted information it had requested on ONS Guide on Consumer Price Indices.
The Board considered an updated Privacy Notice.
Agreed: The Board agreed the Privacy Notice and that it should be published on its webpage.
Action: BoardPrivacy Notice to be published on the Board’s webpage.
The Board confirmed the agreed complaints procedure has been uploaded to its webpage.
The Board recorded its agreement to adopt a logo for use in Board material going forward.
6. Draft Determination on Salaries
Adam Leitch, Legal Adviser, NI Assembly Legal Services, joined the meeting at 9.40am.
Mr Leitch provided an update on the draft determinations that had been prepared further to the instructions of the Board at its meeting on 19 January 2026.
Agreed: The Board agreed its draft determination and is now ready to consult on the draft determination. The Board agreed a two-week consultation period.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Leitch for his attendance.
The Clerk outlined next steps on the consultation on the draft determination and the implementation timeline.
Action: JG will circulate draft cover wording for consultation to the members following the meeting in advance of Thursday.
Action: The draft determination is to be published on the Board’s webpage.
7. Board Communications
John Hart, Head of Communications, NI Assembly joined the meeting at 10.21am.
Mr Hart outlined potential options for the communication of the Board’s work on its first determination.
The Board considered options for the effective communication of its first determination on salaries.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Hart for his attendance.
8. Assembly Members’ Pension Scheme
Paula McClintock, Head of Finance, NI Assembly, joined the meeting at 10.41am.
The Board discussed the progression of work to produce associated with the production of its first pensions determination.
The Head of Finance, agreed to provide further information to the Board and will seek further information from the Trustees of the Assembly Pension Scheme.
Action: The Board to seek further information from the Pension Board Trustees.
The Chairperson thanked Ms McClintock for her attendance.
9. Correspondence
No correspondence received.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Board discussed a draft programme of work relating to determinations for the current Assembly and the next Assembly (2027-2032).
11. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
12. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Board is scheduled to take place at 9:30 am on 09 March 2026 in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.45am.
Chairperson, Independent Remuneration Board
9 March 2026
