Although his political career ended on a less than happy note on Wednesday afternoon, the former Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be surely laughing all the way to the bank this week as he is set to receive a massive payout once he leaves office.
Mr Kenny who gave the news the country was expecting to hear less than two days ago, will become a whole lot wealthier in the coming months and years ahead as he will receive a healthy lump sum and a large state pension.
It is understood that Mr Kenny will be given a payout €378,000 once he leaves his post this June. The departing Taoiseach who had a long standing political career will also be entitled to an annual pension of €126,000 per year.
The news of the former Taoiseach’s extravagant payout which was unveiled before the Dail on Thursday has been met with a stern response from opposition TDs, with many questioning the Government’s decision to hand out large payouts to former TDs.
However the Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has defended the payout given Mr Kenny’s long standing career and dedication to Irish politics.