NUJ Demanding Inquiry After RTÉ Admits €345,000 In Additional Payments To Ryan Tubridy

Friday, 23 June 2023 07:38

RTE says Ryan Tubridy will not present his radio show this morning.

The National Union of Journalists has called for an inquiry, after RTE admitted it paid Ryan Tubridy €345,000 in additional payments between 2017 and 2022.

An audit carried out by Grant Thornton found a deal was created with a commercial partner who paid him for personal appearances - and had its own sponsorship discounted with the broadcaster as a result.

RTE says Ryan Tubridy will not present his radio show this morning.

Ferbane's Seamus Dooley, Secretary with the NUJ says a comprehensive explanation is needed:

An emergency meeting of members of the National Union of Journalists working for RTE will be held today.

Mr. Dooley from the National Union of Journalists says it'll be tough for RTE to start re-building trust:

The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee says RTÉ has ''a lot of questions to answer'' over undeclared payments to Ryan Tubridy.

Laois Offaly Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley says the Public Accounts Committee has been misled by senior staff in RTÉ:

Dee Forbes, the Director General of RTE, was suspended from her employment on Wednesday.

A statement from the broadcaster says "there are processes on-going and RTÉ must be mindful of its legal responsibilities and the rights of individuals".

It adds it will not be commenting further on this issue at this time.

The Media Minister says there are questions about the future of RTÉ's funding model in the wake of controversy around payments to presenter Ryan Tubridy.

Former chair of the RTÉ board Moya Doherty said she was never aware of the payments prior to stepping away in November last year.

Media Minister Catherine Martin noted this all came at a time when RTÉ was seeking increased funding from the State and the taxpayer:

The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee is proposing a meeting with next week with RTÉ and Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Media

Laois Offaly Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has called for RTÉ and the Department to come before the committee next Thursday for an immediate and full examination of the hidden and undisclosed payments to a senior presenter.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said there are serious questions which need answering: