Third Of MLAs Employ Family

Forty-one of Northern Ireland's 108 MLAs employ family members using their Assembly allowance, it has been officially revealed.

The details of members' interests, including additional earnings, have now been published on the Assembly's website.

Despite most of the information being in the public domain, MLAs said they hoped the availability of the data would make Stormont more transparent.

Declan O'Loan, who chairs the Assembly's Standards and Privileges Committee, said the formation of the Register of Members' Interests would highlight any potential conflict of interests for local politicians.

"Openness at the Assembly is essential to ensure public confidence. I therefore welcome the publication of the new Register of Members' Interests which further increases transparency at the Assembly," he said.

Extra earnings, such as company directorships, property ownership, and gifts received are all encompassed in the lists.

It was revealed Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams is paid £9,600 a year for his weekly contribution to a west Belfast newspaper.

He also jointly owns a second residential property in Donegal with his wife.

DUP First Minister Peter Robinson listed his additional homes and properties as an apartment in London, a house in Florida and his east Belfast constituency office.

He declared his earnings as including £64,766 as an MP and £71,434 as First Minister.

More than a dozen DUP MLAs employ family members, with eight Ulster Unionist Assembly members providing work to relatives.

In addition to their Stormont work, the UUP leader Sir Reg Empey, and Alliance leader David Ford said they each annually received £9,738 working as councillors.

Incumbent SDLP leader, and Foyle MP, Mark Durkan declared employing his wife as a secretary.

Around half of all SDLP representatives at Stormont pay family members with public funds for political and administration work.

Northern Ireland's sole Green Party MLA, Brian Wilson, employs his son to do office work.

Alliance's Stephen Farry has hired his wife as a researcher, while party colleague Anna Lo paid her brother to translate constituency mail-drops into Chinese.

(PR/GK)