Independent Remuneration Board
Minutes of Proceedings 27 May 2026
Independent Remuneration Board minutes of proceedings 27 May 2026.pdf (185.5 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 105, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Alan Lowry, Chairperson
Craig Griffiths, Member (remote attendance)
Robert Herron, Member
In Attendance:
James Gilsenan, Assembly Clerk
Roisin Donnelly, Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk
Krystal Clarke, Executive Assistant
Neill Jackson, Head of Executive & Central Advisory Division, The Executive Office (agenda item 6)
Frank Geddis, Clerk Assistant, Parliamentary Services, NI Assembly (agenda item 7)
Paul Gill, Clerk Assistant, Parliamentary Services, NI Assembly (agenda item 7)
Brian Grogan, Deputy Principal Statistician, Economic & Labour Market Statistics Branch, NISRA (agenda item 9)
The meeting commenced at 9.25 am.
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 Clerk provided an update on Freedom of Information requests.
The Clerk provided and update on the development of the Board’s Retention and Disposal Policy.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Board agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2026 subject to minor amendment.
5. Matters Arising
Further to matters considered at the last meeting, the Board noted:
- a briefing paper on the role and responsibilities of the Speaker, Deputy Speakers and the Assembly Commission;
- that the political parties and the Independent Member represented in the Assembly had been invited to provide views on the matters they believe the Board should consider when undertaking its work to inform Pensions and Salaries Determinations for the next Assembly; and
- an updated draft of the Board’s Annual Report for the year ending March 2026.
Agreed: The Board agreed to include reference to the Assembly Commission support provided to the Board and the public response to its first Determination in the draft Annual Report.
6. Office Holders – NI Executive
Neill Jackson, Head of Executive & Central Advisory Division, The Executive Office, joined the meeting (via video conference) at 9.42 am.
Mr Jackson outlined to the Board the role, responsibilities and activities of Executive Ministers.
A question and answer session followed.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Jackson for his attendance and he left the meeting.
7. Office Holders – Assembly Committees
Frank Geddis, Clerk Assistant and Paul Gill, Clerk Assistant, Parliamentary Services, NI Assembly joined the meeting at 9.50 am.
Mr Geddis and Mr Gill briefed the Board on the roles and responsibilities of Assembly Committee Office Holders.
A question and answer session followed.
The Chairperson thanked the Clerk Assistants for their attendance and they left the meeting.
8. Assembly Members’ Salaries – Adjustment Mechanisms
Brian Grogan, Deputy Principal Statistician, Economic & Labour Market Statistics Branch, NISRA, joined the meeting (via video conference) at 10.44 am.
Mr Grogan briefed the Board on the earnings statistics from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and HMRC Pay as You Earn Real Time Information.
A question and answer session followed.
The Chairperson thanked Brian Grogan for his attendance and he left the meeting.
9. Assembly Members’ Pensions
The Board noted the pension related decisions they had made at the previous meeting.
The Clerk advised that he would explore the drafting arrangements required in relation to a Pension Determination.
10. Correspondence
The Board noted correspondence from Alliance, SDLP and UUP to its request for views on the matters the Board should consider when undertaking its work to inform its determinations on salaries and pensions for the next mandate.
The Board noted a Freedom of Information request.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Board discussed its forward work programme and the deadlines for determinations to be made in respect of the next Assembly mandate.
12. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
13. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Board will take place on Monday, 22 June 2026.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.35 am.
Chairperson, Independent Remuneration Board
22 June 2026
