The DG of the Irish public broadcaster RTÉ, Dee Forbes, has resigned after becoming engulfed in a scandal relating to its star presenter.
In March this year a routine audit of RTE’s 2022 accounts found an issue relating to the transparency of payments made to Ryan Tubridy, the presenter of the popular The Late Late Show for the past 12 years.
The RTE Board’s Audit and Risk Committee were asked to carry out an independent fact-finding review into what had taken place.
Tubridy’s previously published remunerations for 2020 and 2021 show that he earned €466,250 and €440,000 respectively, which by 2021 (the first full year on a new contract) appeared to represent an 11% reduction on his 2019 earnings. This was in line with plans by RTE to reduce payments to its talent by 15%.
However, RTE had agreed to underwrite a further €75,000 that would be paid to Turbridy by a commercial partner in return for several personal appearances a year. The commercial partner received a credit note from RTE, reducing its commitment to the broadcaster.
But the commercial partner didn’t renew for a second year, forcing RTE to make the payments itself and these were made to Turbridy’s agent on his behalf.
Tubridy received two payments of €75,000 (totalling €150,000), each in 2022 (being a payment for 2021 and a payment for 2022).
Last week Forbes, who had already signalled her intention to leave the broadcaster, was suspended and this morning (Monday) her resignation was accepted.
In a statement the Board of RTE said: “We acknowledge receipt this morning of correspondence from Dee Forbes confirming her resignation as DG with immediate effect. We note the contents of her accompanying statement.
“Representatives of the RTÉ Board and Executive will be attending the Joint Oireachtas Committee and Public Accounts Committee this week.”
