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24 January 2011
Last updated at 07:15 ET
The former chief executive of NI Water received a total severance package of £97,000, the regional development minister has said.
Conor Murphy gave details of Laurence Mackenzie's deal in an answer to an assembly question by the SDLP's Conall McDevitt.
It includes £91,000 in respect of six months' salary.
Mr Mackenzie resigned after the water crisis which saw 40,000 homes and businesses without supply at its peak.
Northern Ireland Water has also agreed to contribute £3,000 towards his legal fees and a further £3,000 towards tax advisor's fees.
NI Water was heavily criticised for its response, answering only a small proportion of the public's requests for help.
Following his resignation, Mr Mackenzie said his staff had made "tremendous efforts" but added that he "believed firmly in the principles of responsibility and accountability".
Commenting on the severance deal, Mr McDevitt said: "Following Mr McKenzie's announcement to resign, the minister said on several occasions that he would not support any large payout, yet it appears from the figures released to me that Mr Mackenzie got his full contractual entitlement.
"Many who are on a few weeks' or a month's notice will be gobsmacked to hear that Mr Mackenzie got a full six month's salary as he walked out the door."
Northern Ireland Water's performance during the crisis is to be investigated by the utility regulator.
The role of the Department of Regional Development is to be examined by Philip Holder, who has 25 years experience in the utilities sector in England, and Heather Moorhead, former chief executive of the NI Local Government Association.
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Conor Murphy gave details of Laurence Mackenzie's deal in an answer to an assembly question by the SDLP's Conall McDevitt.
It includes £91,000 in respect of six months' salary.
Mr Mackenzie resigned after the water crisis which saw 40,000 homes and businesses without supply at its peak.
Northern Ireland Water has also agreed to contribute £3,000 towards his legal fees and a further £3,000 towards tax advisor's fees.
NI Water was heavily criticised for its response, answering only a small proportion of the public's requests for help.
Following his resignation, Mr Mackenzie said his staff had made "tremendous efforts" but added that he "believed firmly in the principles of responsibility and accountability".
Commenting on the severance deal, Mr McDevitt said: "Following Mr McKenzie's announcement to resign, the minister said on several occasions that he would not support any large payout, yet it appears from the figures released to me that Mr Mackenzie got his full contractual entitlement.
"Many who are on a few weeks' or a month's notice will be gobsmacked to hear that Mr Mackenzie got a full six month's salary as he walked out the door."
Northern Ireland Water's performance during the crisis is to be investigated by the utility regulator.
The role of the Department of Regional Development is to be examined by Philip Holder, who has 25 years experience in the utilities sector in England, and Heather Moorhead, former chief executive of the NI Local Government Association.
Business | Christians | Coupons | Discussions | Gamers
Legal | Politics | Sports | Teens | Webmasters