RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

His control and influence in our national broadcaster is actually a threat to our democracy.

ButtersSuki, what would you like to see in terms of reform/restructuring of RTE?

If the main players are served justice - RT, NK, DF, O'Leary and whoever else acted the magoo, are cut from the station and we get the truth of the account and transactions in detail and proper systems are put in place, I'll pay my license fee.

I would love to see a salary cap and a real person as DG - not a corporate person who has silver spoons out the wazoo. A person with real experience of living and working in Ireland. Not some oxbridge head. I think we've had enough of people who come from institutions/places/cultures who think they're better than everyone else. These are people who use RTE as a lifestyle and a stepping stone for greater things for THEMSELVES. We need someone who prizes journalism and wants to create a great station for Ireland - for everyone - not just D4-West Cork-Barna silverspoon culture.

Thousands a posts on the thread, but this one takes the biscuit. Bravo, Cluedo.

Good God, is that real (I'm a bit behind, sorry!)

How about "Dancing with My Agent"?

The best way imo would be to decentralise it, keep a smaller campus in Dublin but sell 1/2 to 2/3 of Donnybrook, create an RTE Munster in Limerick or Cork, TG4 in Galway to be expanded and given children's programming - those campuses + Virgin can bid for public service grants to make programming in public interest - cuts out the nepotism and introduces an element of competition, you can't pay 500k to a presenter for a few hours work if your sister station could do it cheaper in Cork or Virgin can do it without the overheads, also spin off RTE player to a proper technology company so they can get it working or start from scratch

I didn't think you could be compelled to attend a committee? I don't see why NK or RT would attend just to get a public beat down. I wouldn't go.

Exactly. A committee pretending they care and playing to the gallery and grandstanding.

most a them up to their own necks in expenses and allowances and perks and benefits and riding the same gravy train..

Pre-revolutionary France 1789. A room in the palace of Versailles. A large window with ceiling to floor length brocade curtains. A bulge shows someone hiding behind them.

A figure stands at the window dressed like king Louis XVI.

King Joe 'Will yis come outta dat? Ids bin ten days now - ya hafta come out - ya can't keep hidin

Queen Tubs ' I can't. I can't face anyone. I can't face them.

King Joe 'Bud wha did you say .....wha did you say ta dem?

Queen Tubs ' I can't remember ... it could have been let them eat cake ...or ... I took a salary cut.

King Joe ' An wad did dey say ...oi meaan...wad did dey say...we know wad you sed bud wad did dey say?

Queen Tubs ' Dey sed ...I mean... they said fine, thats fine.

King Joe 'So waddya worryin aboud den? Come outta de coirtin.

Figure emerges, Ryan dressed as Marie-Antoinette, crying, wringing hands and distraught.

King Joe 'For Gawds sakes, pull yerseff tageddir man'

Queen Ryan 'I'm not a man, I'm a woman'

King Joe ( catches him by the shoulder, shaking him) 'No yer naw, say aafder me... I a Tubs.. I am a man'

Queen Ryan ' I am Tubs...I am a man'

King Joe 'Louder. I AM TUBS'

Queen Ryan 'I AM TUBS'.

Enter Noel Kelly dressed as Rasputin.

King Joe ' Why aare ya dressd loike Razpudin?'

Noel Kelly ' Cause like him I'm an advisor, an agent'

Queen Ryan 'Actually thats quite good, makes me look innocent'

King Joe ' Hang on hang on hang on, bud yoire in de wrong cendury...Razspuuudin was in de toime of pre-revultuutionery Russia nod France. Oi know me hisdory'

Noel Kelly 'But the peasants don't. Curly fries, chicken mcnuggets, mcflurries, goldfish memories, lets not overtax their brain with too much information.

King Joe 'Hang on hang on hang on ....hang on....be a bid more respecdful .. oi'm a bid of a peasand meself.

Noel Kelly ' Were' Joe 'were'. On nearly 400 grand a year I'd say you were royalty, wouldn't you?'

King Joe 'Ya have a pint dere' ( all 3 laugh)

Noel Kelly ' Can we drop you off anywhere, on the way to the PAC?'

All 3 exit stage left, chuckling.

King Joe '

0.5/10, must try harder, maybe your heart is just not in this defence anymore 😀