The Taoiseach has asked that former Late Late host Ryan Tubridy, his agent Noel Kelly, and former RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes appear before an Oireachtas committee.
This comes as the second day of the Public Accounts Committee draws to a close, with many of the general overarching questions remaining unanswered by the RTÉ members in attendance.
"We are trying to get to the bottom of what happened when it comes to these unusual, clandestine payments in RTÉ,” said Leo Varadkar. "RTÉ executives and board members have come before the Oireachtas committee to answer questions. But there are other people who could shine a light on this, and they include Ryan Tubridy, they include his agent, they include Dee Forbes.”
"I still believe that they should be willing to come before the committee and answer questions,” He continued. “There are procedures, they will be treated fairly and I think that would be the right thing to do from their part. They may have a story to tell, and I think it's right that they should be allowed to tell their side of the story."
The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Brian Stanley has also asked that Forbes appear before the Oireachtais when "medically appropriate" to do so.
Siún Ní Raghallaigh, chair of the RTÉ Board, has committed to publishing the salaries of the top 100 staff at the broadcaster "as soon as is practically possible”.
She has described the manner in which payments were recorded and presented in the RTÉ accounts as "an act designed to deceive" and has apologised to the public for an "egregious breach of trust".
"Words matter and the term ‘The Talent’, as it is currently used, reinforces a 'them and us' culture in RTÉ," Ní Raghallaigh said before the Oireachtais. "It implies some have greater worth than others. The first step in cultural change is to consign this term to the dustbin."
CFO Richard Collins stated today at the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that following Deloitte’s enquiry regarding payment discrepancy on May 7th, he approached Director General Dee Forbes who told him that the payments were “consultancy invoices relating to Noel Kelly Management”. Collins clarified that he was told the payments were “relating to service provided during Covid”. It has since become apparent that these payments were actually given to Ryan Tubridy for the underwritten Renault deal. Most concerning is the fact that this alleged explanation was given by Forbes to Collins months after the invoices were issued, not in advance.
The Director of Commercial, Geraldine O’Leary also confirmed today that she was aware that the €75,000 invoices issued by NK Management were ultimately due for presenter Ryan Tubridy. However, O’Leary claims that she didn’t know RTÉ had underwritten the Renault deal, and didn’t know what other deals may have been agreed between Tubridy and the broadcaster to warrant the payment.
Earlier today, Minister Catherine Martin addressed the fact she had not been informed of the decision to ask for RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes’s resignation, when she met with the Chair of the RTÉ Board. She clarified that Ní Raghallaigh apologised for “any disquiet caused” by this.
Minister Martin stated that "at all times during this quite complex process we have to be cognisant of individuals' rights and due process and when I met the Chairperson Siún Ní Raghallaigh on Saturday we were really focused on trying to get to the bottom of the numbers, the figures behind it and thinking about that external review that I felt is needed and the governance issue".
"The Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh did ring me this morning and explained or apologised for any disquiet caused because of that, but it was really to do with due process and individuals rights and I was informed as soon as the decision was taken to suspend, the suspension was put in place," Minister Martin said.
"All through this we have to be cognisant of the good to democracy and to society of public service broadcasting and be very aware of the staff that are impacted by this and the anger and hurt they are feeling right now and we have to built up that trust with them so we have to do our best to protect the staff, public service broadcasting, be cognisant of the value.
"I have asked for the greatest clarity possible at today's committee hearing. I felt yesterday there was a shocking display of governance on display in everything that was said so we need clarity today so I have written seeking that clarity for today."
