RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

Not sure if mentioned already but interesting side angle on Breda O'Keefe's 'exit package' in an RTE article this morning. This rests on whether her role was made redundant and suppressed or not. If this was a true redundancy and job suppressed, then apparently she is eligible for up to a whopping €200,000 tax free as part of redundancy.

So you see a little red flag here, from her and others perspectives - an exit package where role is being discontinued is far, far better from a personal taxation point of view than if the person simply leaves and a new person hired. There is potential for tax avoidance here, not saying that's what has happened but clearly a possibility.

Add to this, the apparent free use of a company car or cars to staff - scope for avoidance of tax.

Bartering in essence as an activity usually involves a loss of tax revenue as no money changes hands.

Hmm.......... very hard to avoid the conclusion that there have been / are financial shenanigans going on in parts of this organisation. Whether these have involved tax avoidance or tax evasion will come down to investigations and Revenue I guess. But RTE's moral position to seek additional funding and keeping so called stars on high fees is pretty shoddy.

There is a self proclaimed Revenue employee on this thread, so we know the tax man is taking an interest.

The only problem with your thesis is mcSavage is a roaring alcoholic, who cannot go with the flow and needs to vent through comedy. He is not the plain biscuit RTE require. They tried. It failed despite many LLS appearances

PK had him on a lot

I think it would be interesting if the government gave over 70's a paid TV licence or an extra €160 a year in there pension.

It would be interesting to see what they'd choose.

We're 4 weeks in and there's no sign of any protests yet. I'd have expected something by now.

I don't know Tubridy seems extremely loyal to Noel Kelly and lets him get a free run on all the contract stuff. Seems to really trust his decision making/deal making

Called him a good friend etc and how he would stay loyal to Kelly at one of the committee hearings.

Seems the indo are stating the government believe public sympathy to be on the side of Tubs.

He'll be back in no time.

I'm sorry to think he'll be back. But I think it's great the right people are getting targetted here for the wrong doings and not RT.

I'm not asking myself because I don't really care why RTE did it.

All I cared about in this case was the right people were "caught" and dealt with accordingly and that things at RTE across the board change.

I'm not expecting much.

If turbedy is as good as himself and noal Kelly think he is, won't it be a big kick in the arse to come back to RTE for a lot less money.

It's quite clear Kevin Bakhurst wants Turbridy back. The idea that he is consulting with the staff about it is a charade. Also you don't need a long conversation to show someone the door.

The decision has already been made by him. The only thing he is concerned about is trying to get Turbridy to cut ties with NK as the price for coming back. I can't see Turbridy doing that, as NK could well have stuff on Turbridy. With this in mind it would not surprise me given his influence if Kelly is able to keep stories out of certain newspapers either. If you have the power to get fluff pieces printed that further your agenda,I think it's a given he has kept stories out of the press too.