‘Parachute’ pay-off as Callely nets €31,754 for resigning ministry

FORMER government minister Ivor Callely got a “parachute payment” of €31,754 after stepping down from his job for accepting a free perk, it was revealed yesterday.

Callely, who also lost his Dublin North-Central seat in May’s General Election, got the sum as severance pay last year after resigning in December 2005.

Resigning junior ministers are entitled to a sliding scale of severance pay over two years with last year’s sum coming to €31,754.