New Rules On MLAs Employing Relatives
Stormont MLAs must now register the details of family members they employ, under a new code of conduct.
Under the policy, Assembly members must also register earnings made outside of Stormont.
MLAs approved the new code yesterday.
It had been pushed forward by the Standards and Privileges Committee, headed by the SDLP’s Carmel Hanna.
Rent paid to relatives for constituency offices will now be subject to the register.
Stormont politicians could be suspended from the Assembly without pay if they are found to have broken the new rules.
The guidelines also states that members should be conscious of expressing controversial views regarding race and homosexuality.
It is believed Ms Hanna and her team have been formulating the new policy for sometime, however, its urgency was prompted by the revelations over MPs’ expenses in Westminster.
In 2008, it was revealed 18 DUP MLAs employed family members, SDLP representatives 10, UUP members employed six relatives and among Sinn Fein MLAs it was three.
