NOT knowing whether to laugh or cry was the general response from the public as news emerged that an independent panel has recommended that our MLAs’ salaries should rise by almost £5,000 from April 2013. Currently, an MLA’s basic pay, before claims and expenses, stands at £43,101 – an 11 per cent increase would see it rise to £48,000.
Concern over disease outbreak
POLITICAL representatives and human rights groups have called on the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Justice Minister David Ford to implement the full terms of the 2010 Roe House agreement.
Alex recalls when he brought Smokin’ Joe Frazer to Belfast
The WEST Belfast man who brought boxing great Joe Frazier to the city has paid tribute to the former world heavyweight champion who died this week‘Smokin’ Joe’ (67) died on Tuesday after a battle with liver cancer. He was well known for his series of battles with Muhammad Ali, which included handing ‘the Greatest’ his first-ever defeat in the ‘Fight of the Century’ in Madison Square Garden in 1971, and the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ in the Philippines in 1975.
One MLA paid £30,000 for two hours work
One South Belfast MLA receives nearly £30,000 a year for one to two hours of work as a director of a construction company each month, the latest register of members’ interests for the Assembly has revealed.
Experience is not the issue
A South Belfast SDLP MLA who is standing for the party’s leadership has said his relative inexperience in frontline politics would not count against him in his quest for the position.