However it was the decisive action by the Assembly's Independent Financial Review Panel, in radically reducing any allowances for politicians with dual mandates, which really forced the Stormont parties' hands.

BBC: Promises easy to make in opposition

Last month the National Academy Of Public Administration submitted to President Obama and Congress its independent review on making the personal financial disclosures of lawmakers, their legislative staffs, and many executive branch officials, available as part of an online searchable database.

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