Ryan Tubridy disputes RTE’s statement that his contract “has come to an end”, understands The Irish Independent.
RTÉ released a statement this morning saying that talks for a new contract had been put on hold after the presenter stepped down as host of the Late Late Show.
Mr Tubridy’s previous contract with RTÉ started in July 2020 and was due to expire in March 2025.
“Ryan Tubridy stood down from the Late Late Show in May. RTÉ has written to his agent that the contract including all arrangements therein has come to an end. Negotiations had commenced regarding his radio responsibilities. Those negotiations have been paused as with all negotiations as per Board statement,” the statement said, reports Independent.
However, a source close to Mr Tubridy told the Irish Independent, that he does not believe his contract has been terminated and plans to challenge the national broadcaster’s claim.
“We reject the suggestion that the contract is terminated. The precedent is when contracts change like this and when one element, be it TV or radio goes, that the contract is amended to reflect the change, but it is not terminated,” reports Independent.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar criticized RTÉ’s statement yesterday, blaming the secret cash fiasco of former CEO Dee Forbes.
“We do not believe that the former DG Dee Forbes was the only person with knowledge of these events,” Mr Varadkar said speaking in the Dáil during Leaders Questions, reports Independent.
Sinn Féin TD Pearce Doherty told the Dáil it was “simply isn’t credible” that RTÉ’s top management was unaware of the Ryan Tubridy deal.
Mr. Doherty suggested that more than half of the board were aware of the discussions.
“RTÉ completed a secret deal, and an elaborate plan to cover it up,” he said, reports Independent.
Piers Doherty said RTÉ had provided Ryan Tubridy with select information about hidden payments and asked RTÉ about the issues underlying the fiasco.
“It leaves more questions than answers. And reading the RTÉ statement, you’d be led to believe that Dee Forbes was the only person who knew. But that’s simply isn’t credible. More than half the executive board had knowledge about the commercial contract, at a time of pay cut for workers and when people were struggling to pay the annual licence fee during that cost of living crisis. In order to falsely portray that Ryan Tubridy was taking a pay cut, RTÉ created that sweetheart deal and an elaborate plan to cover it up,” Mr Doherty said, reports Independent.
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