The cost of high office

Brian Cowen left office with a total package worth more than €310,000 last year, while Bertie Ahern walked away with over €299,000 — all funded by the taxpayer.

New figures published yesterday reveal for the first time the full picture of the lucrative pensions and pay-offs which the last cabinet received.

The Department of Finance figures show the pensions paid to former ministers and office-holders, such as presidents and attorneys-general, in 2011.