Allister and Pengelly clash over special advisers bill

Newly appointed DUP MLA, Emma Pengelly, was a special adviser to First Minister Peter Robinson until last week

DUP MLA Emma Pengelly has suggested that if special advisers' wages are capped, then barristers' earnings from taxpayers should also be considered.

Until last week, Mrs Pengelly was a special adviser to First Minister Peter Robinson, earning over £90,000.

Mrs Pengelly was questioning TUV leader Jim Allister about his proposed bill which would reduce special advisers' wages from £92,000 to £78,000.

Both Mrs Pengelly and Mr Allister are qualified barristers.

Jim Allister, TUV, was briefing members of the finance committee on his special advisers bill

The TUV leader objected that Mrs Pengelly had not declared an interest before starting to question him. She replied that said her previous post as an adviser was well known.

Mr Allister described Mrs Pengelly's analogy as "foolish". He argued that there was no comparison between self-employed barristers and special advisers.

Mrs Pengelly insisted that there was a valid comparison as barristers were taking hundreds of thousands of pounds a year from the taxpayer in legal aid payments.