Updated 12:25pm
MLAs in Stormont will have their salaries reduced, amid the ongoing failure to form an Executive.
Payments will be reduced by more than £13,000, because members of the Assembly are not performing all their functions.
The Assembly hasn't sat since early last year, when the Executive collapsed amid a row about a botched renewable heating initiative.
The UK's Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley offered an update to MPs in the House of Parliament today, after parties in the North met again earlier this week for the first talks in six months.
Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley gives an update to MPs in the House of Commons, London on the restoration of Northern Ireland Government. Picture by: PA/PA Wire/PA Images
She suggested that public services, businesses and the people of Northern Ireland are suffering because of the continuing impasse.
Ms Bradley observed: "I have not believed and do not now believe that holding an election during this time of significant change and political uncertainty would be helpful or would increase the prospects of restoring the Executive.
"I intend to introduce primary legislation in October to provide for a limited and prescribed period in which there will be no legal requirement to set a date for a further election, and importantly, during which time an Executive may be formed at any point without the requirement for further legislation.
"This will provide a further opportunity to re-establish political dialogue with the aim of restoring the Executive as soon as possible."
She said the pay reduction for MLAs will take effect in two stages, starting in November.
However, the allowance for staff will not be reduced, with Ms Bradley noting she does not believe MLAs’ staff should suffer "because of the politicians’ failure to form an Executive".
Continuing impasse
Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said he is "deeply concerned at the continuing impasse", and said he spoke to Ms Bradley last night.
In a statement, he said: "Today’s announcement further underlines the seriousness of the absence of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, and the urgent requirement for all with responsibilities to do everything in their power to get them operating again.
"The strong and consistent calls from across all sections of the community in Northern Ireland for the devolved institutions to operate must be heeded."
He welcomed this week's talks in the North, saying he wants to see it followed up "with a political process that can secure an agreement on the operation of the devolved institutions".
The major parties in the North have been at an impasse since an election in March 2017.
Negotiations collapsed in February, with the DUP claiming there was 'no current prospect' of forming an Executive.
