A Stormont financial package – including funding for pay increases for public sector workers – was detailed during political talks in December for a resurrected Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. However, devolved government remains collapsed after almost two years while the DUP continue protest action over unionist concerns around post-Brexit trading arrangements. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned of a funding gap (Liam McBurney/PA)Mr Kelly urged Secretary of State Mr Heaton-Harris to intervene to deliver pay awards for public sector workers. He added: “The service is being slowly strangled by a Government that is using policing, and other cash-strapped public services, as a political bargaining chip to restart the Northern Ireland executive and assembly which has been ‘mothballed’ for almost two years. “The PSNI is funded from the Northern Ireland Executive block grant via the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Source: The Herald January 01, 2024 01:38 UTC