A plan to agree a £7,000 pay rise for MLAs was dramatically dropped from the Assembly agenda on Monday.
Stormont politicians were expected to pass a report by the Assembly Commission recommending initial increases of £5,000 in two years' time, plus extra money for MLAs who hold ministerial posts or other special office.
Sinn Fein had already said it would oppose the wage increase, but as other parties, including the SDLP and the DUP, raised concerns over the report's contents with the Speaker, it was unexpectedly pulled from the Agenda of Monday's Assembly sitting.
Ulster Unionist Robert Coulter, who was expected to place the Commission's report before the House, asked that it be removed.
When Sinn Fein's North Belfast MLA Caral Ni Chuilin asked for an explanation for the surprise development, she was told by the Assembly's deputy Speaker that one did not have to be provided under Assembly procedures.
It has been reported that an MLA's base salary of around £43,000 is recommended to rise to more than £48,000 after 2011.
The Senior Salary Review body proposed wage levels be brought into line with other devolved institutions, and should rise to 75% of an MP's salary.
Predicted annual increases in the salaries for members of the House of Commons could mean, however, that by 2011 the MLAs could see their pay jump to more than £50,000.
Salary increases are also proposed for MLAs who hold special political offices in Stormont.
The First Minister and Deputy First Minister, for example, could receive an extra £8,000 each with their salaries rising to nearly £80,000.
The annual pay of other Northern Ireland Executive ministers would rise from nearly £38,000 to at least £41,000.
Ministerial salaries are received on top of Assembly member wages.
© Press Association