The Alliance Party has formally submitted its response to the Independent Remuneration Board's consultation regarding MLA pay, expressing significant concern over proposed salary increases.

In the submission, the party reiterated its support for the independence of the Remuneration Panel, noting that it remains inappropriate for MLAs to have any involvement in determining their own remuneration. However, the party emphasised that any adjustments to pay must reflect the current state of public finances and remain consistent with the pay rises awarded to other workers across the public sector. The response highlighted a shared public frustration regarding the scale of the proposed hike, particularly when viewed against the "glacial pace of delivery" at Stormont and the recurring instability of the Executive over the last ten years.

While the Remuneration Panel has suggested penalties for periods when the Assembly is not operational, the Alliance Party argued that these measures are insufficient. The submission stated:

"In addition to the reductions outlined, the salaries of MLAs from those parties who prevent the Assembly from functioning should be stopped completely, as would be the case for other workers engaging in strike action."

The party further contended that the necessity for such safeguards points to a wider issue within the political institutions. The submission concluded that rather than planning for "future failure," the UK and Irish Governments should focus on reforming the institutions to ensure no single party can prevent the government from functioning.