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NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris

Legislation introduced to push back deadline to form a Stormont Executive

It will also allow for MLA salaries to be cut by around a third while the Assembly is unable to sit.

LEGISLATION IS SET to be introduced in UK Parliament to push back the deadline by which a Northern Ireland Executive must be formed.

The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill will also see MLA salaries slashed by about a third while the Assembly is unable to conduct business, and take “limited but necessary steps” to maintain public services.

It comes as the Stormont parties failed to establish a new Executive by 28 October, some 24 weeks after the last Assembly election in May.

That placed a legal responsibility on the UK Government to hold a fresh Assembly election by 19 January.

However, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris ruled out a December election and will instead bring legislation to extend the deadline.

embedded269662817 Parties at Stormont failed to establish a new executive by 28 October Liam McBurney / PA Liam McBurney / PA / PA

The new legislation will extend the period for executive formation by six weeks to 8 December, with the possibility of a further six-week extension to 19 January.

Meanwhile, the Bill will clarify the decision-making powers for civil servants leading departments in the absence of ministers.

It will also enable a small number of vital public service appointments to be made and enable the regional rate for 2023/24 to be set should an executive not be in place to do so.

A DUP boycott of the devolved institutions, in protest at Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol, has prevented an executive being formed in Belfast.

The region’s largest unionist party has made clear it will not countenance a return to powersharing until the protocol’s economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are scrapped.

Talks are ongoing between the UK and EU over the protocol while a Bill to over-ride elements of the protocol is currently going through the parliamentary process.

embedded267415310 An anti-Northern Ireland Protocol sign close to Larne Port Liam McBurney / PA Liam McBurney / PA / PA

Speaking ahead of the introduction of the Bill, Heaton-Harris urged the Stormont parties to “come together”.

“I urge the Northern Ireland parties to use this extended time to come together and deliver for the interests of all people in Northern Ireland, particularly in this time of rising costs,” he said.

“At present, MLAs are not in a position to fulfil the full range of their duties, so it is right that we take steps to reduce their salaries, especially in the current economic climate and in view of the £660 million black hole in the public finances created by poor decisions made by outgoing ministers.

“Furthermore, Northern Ireland’s people are being denied full democratic representation.

“The government’s priority is to see politicians elected to return to fulfil their roles in a strong, devolved and locally accountable government, as laid out by the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.”

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6 Comments
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    Mute Alan Constable
    Favourite Alan Constable
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:52 AM

    The group holding up the process should be deducted 100%. Not fair other people that want to get on with business are affected

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    Mute Susan ward
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:32 AM

    So why do they get the other two thirds of their salaries?

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    Mute Keith Twamley
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    Nov 21st 2022, 11:14 AM

    @Susan ward: Should be dropped a third each month it’s not sitting.

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Nov 21st 2022, 9:32 AM

    There needs to be a penalty for the DUP refusing to allow Stormont to function ( or any other party who refuses to participate)
    They can protest if they want but must know that they won’t be paid, or better still will be forced to give up their seats if they won’t take them

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    Mute Séan Ó Nuanáin
    Favourite Séan Ó Nuanáin
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:26 AM

    Disgraceful that this is happening

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    Mute Phyllis Gill
    Favourite Phyllis Gill
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    Nov 21st 2022, 12:44 PM

    Reduce their pay by 100% in their absence from Stormont & donate it to various charities! Put a deadline on their absence & if they still maintain their stubborn stance sack them from their positions to show everyone that no-one can hold the business of government to ransom!

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