The £7m annual running cost of the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has been described as highly questionable by a leading member of the Democratic Unionist Party.
Jim Allister, DUP MEP, has also criticised the salaries paid to the Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, and her Director of Investigations.
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland office investigates complaints against the PSNI.
As a result it is involved in sensitive, often controversial activity.
Mr Allister described Ms O'Loan's £89,000 salary as generous. He said that her Executive Director of Investigations, David Wood, with a salary of £110,000 and benefits in kind of almost £33,000, is almost paid on a par with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
An SDLP member of the North's Policing Board, Assembly member Alex Attwood, rejected the criticism. He said Ms O'Loan's office is essential to help build confidence in policing.
Mr Attwood said a majority of Protestants and Catholics recognise it is doing important work.
