LAST UPDATE | 11 Jul 2023
RYAN TUBRIDY WANTS to be back on radio with RTÉ “as soon as possible”, the presenter has told TDs today,
Tubridy claimed he has been “dragged into a mess not of my own making” during his defence for role in the pay scandal engulfing the broadcaster.
RTÉ’s new director general has signalled that a decision will be made on Tubridy’s future in the coming weeks following consultation with staff and new senior leadership in RTÉ, but added that the presenter’s “reputation has been undermined” by the ongoing controversy.
Detailing what he called “seven untruths” before the Public Accounts Committee today, Tubridy was asked if he wants to continue working with RTÉ given the scandal.
Tubridy took aim at his employer by saying that “full transparency and disclosure” from RTÉ in recent weeks would have prevented the confusion about its presenter’s role in the controversy.
During today’s PAC hearing, Tubridy told Fine Gael’s Colm Burke: “I don’t have any doubt, I want to get back to work on the radio as soon as possible”.
He added: “I want to get back to my team and to the listeners.”
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said she found it “strange” that Tubridy wants to go back to work with RTÉ “given all of the issues that you’ve documented in your booklet and the opening statement”.
“You obviously feel RTÉ has badly damaged you,” says Murphy.
Tubridy replied that it is the past three weeks that have been damaging but that it was “not necessarily RTÉ as an institution” that had been harmed.
However, he acknowledged “beef” with some at RTÉ but says he wants to get back to work.
“I understand that the amount of money we are talking about is eye-watering, I’m not a fool, I understand that.
“But I haven’t changed as a person over those years,” said Tubridy.
He added that the only thing he has for his colleagues who have been watching on is “respect”.
The much-anticipated hearings come after almost three weeks of revelations at the public service broadcaster, which began after it emerged that RTÉ paid Tubridy over €345,000 more than it officially declared between 2017 and 2022.
The former Late Late Show host has been off air since the controversy began, and has only issued two statements – both in the opening days of the scandal in late June.
Speaking before the Oireathas Media Commitee later in the day, Tubridy said he “could be out of a job by Friday” as he awaits a decision from new RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst.
Bakhurst said today that staff will be consulted on Tubridy’s future but ruled out making a decision this week.
“There’ll be no decision this week about Ryan. I need to probably consider it, it’s a big decision for us and for Ryan obviously,” Bakhurst told Matt Cooper on Today FM.
He added that he will talk to some members of staff and the new leadership team at RTÉ as part of the process but added: “It will be my own responsibility in the end.”
When asked what would justify Tubridy leaving the broadcaster, Bakhurst said that, “It’s there for everyone to see that what’s happened and how his reputation has been undermined” by the controversy.
"What is Ryan Tubridy's position going to be because it seems quite clear he would like to be back on air"
— Today FM 💛 (@TodayFM) July 11, 2023
RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst on Ryan Tubridy's future at RTÉ #TheLastWord @cooper_m pic.twitter.com/YPYLKYPNxa
“I don’t want to get directly criticising him myself because I know him well, I like him, he’s a very bright guy, he’s an extremely good broadcaster and I don’t like to any individuals’ reputation being trashed the way his has been over the last few weeks.
“I feel for him personally and I hope given a bit of time wherever it is, he’ll restart his career. He’s a very talented broadcaster but we have to make what is the right decision for RTÉ in the end.”
Contains reporting by Hayley Halpin
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