RTÉ director general Dee Forbes has said she has tendered her resignation to the State broadcaster “with immediate effect” following controversy surrounding payments to Ryan Tubridy that has engulfed the broadcaster since last week.
“I want to reiterate that I have engaged fully with the board during this process. However, the board has not treated me with anything approaching the levels of fairness, equity and respect that anyone should expect as an employee, a colleague or a person. All of this has had a very serious and ongoing impact on my health and wellbeing.”
The three party leaders will discuss the RTÉ situation at their weekly meeting this evening before the Minister for Arts and Media, Catherine Martin, briefs her Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday, when she is expected to give details of an external review of corporate governance and culture at the station.
In her statement, Ms Forbes said: “I have engaged with and consistently co-operated with the processes directed towards answering questions surrounding payments to Ryan Tubridy. Much of the information in the Grant Thornton report furnished to the board of RTÉ has emerged in recent days. There are a number of points which I think are important to emphasise.
Ms Forbes said that following detailed discussions over many months an agreement was reached “which delivered cost savings for RTÉ”. She said the agreement meant a commercial partner would enter a separate commercial agreement with Tubridy in exchange for the provision of three events annually. “The commercial partner agreed to this new business relationship with Ryan Tubridy, but they required the change to be cost neutral, as they were in the final year of a three-year sponsorship contract and this was done by issuing a credit note for €75,000 against their airtime.
“At all times, I and the representatives of RTÉ acted in good faith. I fully accept and acknowledge responsibility for my part in these events as director general.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Live updates as RTE director-general Dee Forbes resigns amid Tubridy pay scandal🚨 BREAKING - Dee Forbes has resigned from RTE with immediate effect
Read more »
Dee Forbes resigns as RTÉ Director-General 'with immediate effect' | Newstalk'I am deeply sorry for what has happened' - Dee Forbes resigns as RTÉ Director-General 'with immediate effect'
Read more »
Former RTE 2fm star lifts lid on 'culture of hiding payments' at RTE“I was hired on a contract basis, like a supplier, like I was the guy who comes in to deliver the water or the printer.”
Read more »
Former RTE star Mary Kennedy 'not short of work' since retiring from RTEThe Dubliner was forced to retire from Nationwide in 2019 after she turned 65
Read more »
Arts Minister announces external review into governance and culture at RTÉThe chair of the RTÉ Board said that RTÉ management would work closely with the review so that confidence in RTÉ could be restored.
Read more »
Tubridy payments: Fresh evidence of weak financial controls at RTÉ amid public angerPresenter will not host radio show next week as national broadcaster battles anger and backlash over failure to declare €345,000 in payments
Read more »