RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

Didn't he go on holidays two weeks after starting? Tells you everything you need to know about both him and that circus of an organisation.

The 7-9 slot on Lyric is John Kelly and he has built up a loyal following.

RT does NOT have the vast knowledge and expertise that John Kelly has.

So, that’s a no go.

At a stretch - Maybe RT could do the Sunday afternoon big band jazz slot that auld uncle Gaybo used to do.

It seems to me that RTÉ don't really understand the normal person absolute dislike for the service that the have provided over the last 60 odd years.

I grew up with just RTÉ One and Network 2, and even back then RTÉ were providing more content across those 2 services than they are currently and even then many were unimpressed by the line up of local shows on RTÉ. The intro of Network 2 was welcome from the dire RTÉ2.

It did improve from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, mainly brought on by TV3's entry into the market but also IMO so not to look bad against TnaG/TG4. N2 again had some innovation during this period.

But even the small things that RTÉ do well doesn't out weight the general populations displeasure and dislike for service provided.

RTÉ seem bound to ignore their audience.

A good 2 months in and nothing has changed for the audience and nothing has change substantial for them over the last decade.

From increased repeats to the busman's holidays in RTÉ. Regular transmissions shall ceases and you should all be happy with what you've got, until the autumn, Oiche Mhaith

As much as I love classical, Lyric has a wider remit and JK’s show falls under that -

We are in an era when we have to tell people who John Lennon was!

Yep. And even in the Tubridy era, the people from the IMF were walking down the street in Dublin and RTE had two dumb and dumber FF ministers claiming that there was no bailout. All the other channels were covering the IMF story with live video feeds. Would Tubridy have even got a place in RTE without his family connection to the former DG?

Regards...jmcc

I would think the drop in numbers paying the licence fee is a problem for Ryan Tubridy. If he's brought back there will be a cohort who are disgruntled and will be less likely to keep paying. I had thought he would be back, he didn't really do anything wrong except for allowing people to believe he was taking a pay cut, more of a sin of omission than anything; but I think it'd be very risky for RTE to reintroduce him now.

Except Gaybo had knowledge and a liking for Jazz, so that's a no go either.

At a stretch he could do the paper reading on Morning Ireland.

From memory Gaybo had himself and a producer for that show. If it was Tubridy presenting a similar show, he'd need a team of producers and researchers. Likewise if he was presenting something like Late Date.

Good analogy

Let's take a little look back over the shoulder at 2009.

Firstly from the IT on 30/12/2009. Ichabod couldn't take a pay cut for "legal reasons". Sounding a bit like Biggins, late of this parish, he later recanted, advising that his "legal position" had changed. The quote in bold below is somewhat bewildering. Anyone?

"LATE LATE Show presenter Ryan Tubridy has said he dealt "appropriately" with requests for a pay cut because of the financial situation at RTÉ.

Tubridy was one of a number of RTÉ’s top-paid presenters who was initially reluctant to take a voluntary 10 per cent pay cut when requested by RTÉ management.

He cited legal reasons for his refusal to do so, but instead, he offered to make a substantial donation to charity. In March he said his legal situation had been resolved and he took the cut.

On RTÉ’s News at One programme, yesterday, Tubridy said he made that donation, took the 10 per cent cut and has since taken another one. “That was dealt with appropriately,” he said.

Tubridy was RTÉ’s fourth best-paid presenter in 2008, the last year for which figures are available. He earned €533,333 in that year, a nearly 50 per cent increase on his 2007 earnings of €366,867.

He said people were “100 per cent entitled” to look at the salaries of RTÉ’s top-paid presenters given the state of the economy and the levels of unemployment at the moment.

“One of the saddest things I saw this year was that moment in Waterford Crystal when there was a scuffle and somebody hit the glass door and fell down and, for some reason, that encapsulated where this country was going economically,” he said.

“I see people walking around this town, perfectly well kitted out. They have no work, they have nowhere to go. People are angry and upset. I totally understand that.”

When asked if he was paid too much, Tubridy responded: “I am paid what is negotiated for me. In that case, they deem it fit to pay me that and that is what happens.”

Earlier that year, in the Mirror (on February 3rd), the mood in Montrose was somewhat more militant. Note Gerry Ryan's comments now with the benefit of hindsight...

"TOP RTE star Ryan Tubridy last night revealed he will not be taking a pay cut for "personal, legal reasons".

The broadcaster broke his silence and revealed in a statement that he will not be accepting a 10 per cent cut from his EUR346,000 salary.

The statement read: "Like everyone else in this country, I have been watching the ongoing economic situation closely.

"Due to personal, legal reasons, I have been advised that a pay cut is not an option for me at this time."

But the RTE Radio 1 presenter revealed he will be giving money to charity, adding: "Despite this, I am making a significant donation to St Vincent de Paul, a charity that could probably do with our help now more than ever."

Tubridy, 35, had joined forces with fellow RTE top dogs.

Gerry Ryan and Pat Kenny have also refused to take a salary hit to save the cash-strapped station.

Despite coming under fire from the public - 87 per cent of people have demanded they take a cut - the trio are sticking to their guns.

Kenny and Ryan used their programmes last week to defend their salaries, which are paid by a combination of licence fees and advertising.

Kenny, whose company Pat Kenny Media Ser vices Limited, claimed on his radio show last week that he is "probably supporting several public servants in their jobs". Ryan described calls for a cut as "bulls**t".

He told his listeners last week: "Sorry, have I missed something? Are people in RTE other than senior management taking cuts in wages? . . . It isn't happening. Unions, just like the unions in the public sector, will not allow that."

He added: "I'll get together with Ryan Tubridy and Pat Kenny and the others, and jaysus, we will come up with something."

Marian Finucane, Joe Duffy, Derek Mooney, Miriam O'Callaghan and Eamon Dunphy have all accpted a 10 per cent pay cut.

Tubridy's statement will now put more pressure on Ryan and Kenny to take some form of action.

Despite this, I am making a significant donation to SVP."

RTE reported a final capitulation in March. At that stage Gee Ryan was the last to hold out. Bills to pay, you know yourself, listeners.

"RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy has announced that he will take a 10% pay cut.

In a statement, Mr Tubridy said until now, he had not been in a position to take a pay cut, but that his legal situation had changed in recent days.

The move comes two days after RTÉ Director General Cathal Goan announced the national broadcaster had proposed pay cuts for its 2,300 staff.

He said the cuts would be as fair as possible, with those who earn more giving more.

RTÉ is currently forecasting a shortfall of approximately €68 million or 15% in total revenue for 2009."