Independent Remuneration Board on Assembly Members’ Salaries and Pensions to Hold First Meeting
Independent Remuneration Board
20 November 2025
(REF: IRB 01/25/26)
The newly established Independent Remuneration Board responsible for determining the salaries and pensions of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will hold its first meeting on Monday 24 November.
The Board is a statutory body, established by the Assembly Members (Independent Remuneration Board) Act (Northern Ireland) 2025.
The Board's objectives are to provide MLAs with a level of remuneration which fairly reflects the complexity and importance of their work as MLAs and does not deter anyone from seeking election on financial grounds. It will also ensure that public money is spent with probity, accountability, value for money and transparency.
The role of the Board is to make determinations in relation to all aspects of salaries and pensions for MLAs as well as the remuneration of additional officeholders including the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, Assembly Commission Members and Committee Chairpersons - as well as the remuneration of members of the Northern Ireland Executive (the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Ministers) and Junior Ministers.
Determinations on salaries and pensions will normally be made only once in respect of each Assembly mandate, although the legislation provides for exceptional circumstances. In addition, the Board is required to make a determination in respect of the current Assembly as soon as reasonably practicable.
Whilst the Board will receive secretariat support from the Assembly, its independent status means it is not subject to the direction or control of the Assembly or the Assembly Commission.
Alan Lowry, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Board said: “We are aware that the issue of Members’ salaries attracts significant public and media scrutiny.
“The Board’s scope and statutory independence are designed to ensure decisions regarding MLA pay are made through an objective, expert and transparent process which is detached from the political arena.
“Public confidence in our political representatives is vital, and the Board looks forward to undertaking our work which will strengthen this fundamental pillar of our society.”
The Board is made up of a chairperson and two other members who are each appointed for a five-year term. All three bring a wealth of experience from across the local business, statutory administration and community sectors.
Alan Lowry has been appointed chairperson of the Board and the two members are Craig Griffiths and Robert Herron.
Ends
For further information please contact the Assembly’s communications office communications@niassembly.gov.uk
Notes to Editors:
The Independent Remuneration Board was established under the Assembly Members (Independent Remuneration Board) Act (Northern Ireland) 2025. This legislation amended the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and made changes to the powers and governing framework of the previous body, the Independent Financial Review Panel.
Details of The Assembly Members (Independent Remuneration Board) Act (Northern Ireland) 2025 can be found on www.legislation.gov.uk here
Members of the Board
Alan Lowry (Board Chair) is Executive Chair of Environmental Street Furniture. He is also chair of the Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland, and on their UK-wide policy board since 2021. Previously, he was previously a director with WT Burdens.
Mr. Lowry currently serves on the UK Government Small Business Growth Forum and is an Export Champion for the Department for Business and Trade. He previously served as Chair of the Electrical Wholesalers Federation and the Institution of Lighting Engineers. He is currently a guest lecturer at the Ulster University Business School. Mr. Lowry is currently Chair of the charity, Zimbabwe Orphan Care, a role he has held since 2006 - supporting feeding, education and orphanage programmes in Harare, Zimbabwe and operating the ‘Jabulani’ children’s home.
Craig Griffiths (Board Member) is the Head of Members’ Business Support with the Senedd Commission, overseeing teams that administer allowances and provide generalist HR support to Members of the Senedd. Prior to taking up this role, Craig was a lawyer with the Senedd’s Legal Services team, where he provided legal advice on a range of business and corporate matters, including to the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd. Although now a non-practising solicitor, Craig practised public and commercial law for 18 years, working in local government and private practice.
Robert Herron (Board Member) is a retired Presbyterian Minister. He served as Clerk of the Presbytery of Omagh from 2004 to 2023. He is a past President of the Irish Council of Churches. Currently, he is a Trustee of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; a Charity Trustee of the General Investment Fund (PCI); a Charity Trustee of the Presbytery of Omagh; Chair of the Presbyterian Herald Oversight Panel (the official magazine of PCI); a member of the Council for Public Affairs (PCI) and Convener of the State Education Committee (PCI). He represents the Presbyterian Church on the Transferor Representatives’ Council. Robert is a former Chair of the Western Education and Library Board and a past President of the NI Association of Education and Library Boards. He was appointed to the Board of the Education Authority (EA) in 2015 and served until 2025. During his membership of the EA, he was Chair of the Resources and People Committee; the Remuneration Committee; the Membership and Teaching Appointments Committee; the Education Committee and a member of the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee. He has forty years’ experience as a school governor and in 2015 was awarded an OBE for services to education.
