Anger grows in N. Ireland over pay for deadlocked politicans

BELFAST: With talks deadlocked on forming a new government in Northern Ireland, calls grew on Thursday for politicians to have their pay suspended, having sat for only 45 minutes since Mar.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein are yet to agree on forming a new power-sharing coalition in the British province, meaning its 90 legislators have no reason to sit.
But the taxpayer is still footing their salaries, totalling £371,250 a month (RM2.1 million) or £2.6 million since Mar.
In addition, more than £1 million is estimated to have been paid out to meet the various operating costs, such as heating and insurance, of parliament since the beginning of the year.
Several more millions have been claimed in expense by elected officials.
On Twitter, one user wrote: "top wages for no work – while healthcare workers get 1%", referring to pay rises in the National Health Service.
"Any word on the ceasing of Members of the Legislative Assembly pay yet & transferring the money to NHS?" asked another.
More than 20,000 have signed an online petition demanding the freezing of payments.
James Brokenshire, Britain's Northern Ireland secretary, warned Thursday that he was seeking independent advice "on what steps may be taken" regarding the wage bill in "recognition of the strength of public concern".
The issue is causing unease within the parties, with a member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) saying he was "personally embarrassed" by the situation.
"At constituency level, work never stops being done but I appreciate frustration people have that we don't have a functioning government," he said.
However, DUP leader Arlene Foster dismissed the clamour to suspend payments, saying the calls "would be relevant if we weren't doing any work," in reference to the ongoing negotiations with Sinn Fein.
Brokenshire said Wednesday that Britain's parliament will begin legislating later this month for a new budget for Northern Ireland if the semi-autonomous province's squabbling parties fail to reach an agreement.
Northern Ireland's two main parties have been locked in months of negotiations since Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive collapsed in Jan.
Talks are stalled on two key demands from Sinn Fein: the legalisation of same-sex marriage and legal protection for the Irish language. — AFP