Northern Ireland’s First Minister, David Trimble, is reported to have been paid more than the Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon, despite both roles being treated as equal in status. According to the accounts, the pay gap is about £5,000.
The reports say there was also a proposal to increase the differential further to £15,000. Both outlets attribute the concern to the Northern Ireland Office, which is described as weighing the risk of breaching equal pay expectations. One source characterises this as a fear that Trimble could respond adversely if equal pay principles are raised.
While both articles focus on the same figures and the same internal concern about equal pay, they present the story with slightly different emphasis. The Belfast Telegraph leads on the pay differential and the justification for it, while the Irish Independent similarly highlights the proposed rise and the alleged reasoning behind it, including a reference to the likely reaction from Trimble. Both ultimately depict a situation where pay does not match the perceived equality of the two posts.
