Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Had they decided to terminate the contract, under the terms and conditions of employment he would have been entitled to seek those increased severance arrangements. That is the point. In the interests of the organisation, both were coming to the conclusion that this was the right thing to do. He was prepared to go on the basis of being dealt with, as he would claim, fairly. Had the contract been terminated he would have been entitled to those enhanced severance arrangements as well.

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