RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

I think its a bit different to some of ye. Sure, a lot of people have stopped paying the licence fee. And no doubt that's partly related to the controversy.

But if RTE had moved quickly, apologised for the mistakes made and put Ryan back on the radio immediately it'd have blown over very quickly. Keeping their top presenter off the radio isn't going to encourage people to stump up. Obviously. And it's just drawing more heat to the unfortunate affair.

Sure, in this alternate universe where people aren't paying the licence fee cos "top presenter" Tubridy is off air, let us know how RTE's licence fee revenue is holding up.

Did your version of Tubridy actually apologise and return his ill gotten gains or donate them to some suitable charity?

Because your post doesn't connect to this universe in any way shape or form.

You probably undersold yourself there.

I mean is Tubridy only "their top presenter"? Not the country's foremost broadcaster???

Most beloved broadcaster???

No, won't someone please think of the children comment???

He is the country's most beloved broadcaster, that's just a fact. And taking him off the air is not going to help anything.

Come on, he doesn't have any 'ill gotten gains', Ryan got paid the amount RTE agreed to pay him, he didn't steal it from anyone. Perspective seems to be sadly lacking in the whole discussion.

I'd like to think that RTE can come out of this a more settled place, the nation doesn't need this very cross sniping at the national broadcaster. Ryan's return is an important step in moving forward, and it's upsetting that it has been so drawn out.

It was a unique method of payment, and unfortunate for sure, but RTE management wanted it to be so. Ryan just got the money. He'd have been happy enough to be paid in a much more straightforward way.

And you know well Ryan would love to be back on the air, RTE have decided not to put him on even though he has done nothing wrong, it's up to them, and it would make far more sense to pay him to do what he is best at rather than sitting at home wishing he was there. It's actually crazy stuff from RTE, paying Ryan to do nothing while at the same time increasing the risk of him going to England. Taking him off the air won't look so smart if that happens.

They were ill gotten because they were paid by necessity as under the counter payments. By necessity to shield them from proper scrutiny within RTE. For work not even done. For sham work specifically set up to enable him to be paid off the books.

They were ill gotten as they were invoiced under false pretences.

They were ill gotten because he lied (by omission) about them in public, and to his colleagues.

So yes, ill gotten gains obtained by improper means.

Crazy statement. Ryan wasn't the one looking to be paid in this way, RTE management wanted to do it like this. It would have been better for everyone if they had done it in a more transparent way. Ryan facilitated them, and all he has gotten is abuse.

I don't wish to insult anyone but the country has a lot of begrudgers who seem to just not like Ryan. They're actually glad to have a chance to complain about him. It's awful and I hope he isn't too upset by it.

I cannot believe this whole thread is just focusing on Tubs. He is just the tip of the iceberg of all that is wrong in RTE. Making him the story makes the public forget about the rest of the mess. He will be back and RTE will be delighted that the story focuses only on him. It can be pushed aside in time on the basis of mental health issues having to deal with this and it will all be forgotten.

Abuse wasn't 'all' Tubridy got was it?

There's the small matter of the hundreds of thousands of euros resting in his account for which he did no work.

Nice work if you can't get it.

Claire Byrne getting first dibs on the new report released a few minutes ago. The official cover up and muddying of waters moves into a new phase.

Ball of smoke as explained so far - Tubs was getting €500K plus in 2017-2019 and knew it. But RTE were able to claim he took a cut and Tubs was able to bask in his virtuous modesty.

Dishonesty to the public on both sides, from RTE and Tubs.

Imagine paying €500K for the clown :(

It would have been much better if he had been paid conventionally, of course. But he facilitated RTE, he has a loyalty to the station, and he's paying for that now. It is grossly unfair, anyone can see that.

He has been vindicated. He actually waived a six figure payment, but hardly a word about it. But Kevin Backhurst wants him to return money that RTE opted to pay him.

You’ve made it obvious in fairness to a reasonable observer on a couple of occasions that you are just taking the absolute mick but it might be worth stating as a reminder in this thread : there has been no evidence presented from anyone , anywhere about any offers to RT from anywhere, fromother Irish stations or abroad. No reasonable adult would think he would get anything near his RTE pay from anyone else.

The article in the Sun about RT and NK meeting execs in UK was just desperate PR nonsense and again didn’t even happen.

The RT pay is just a bad example from a larger issue of poor governance in RTÉ . The headlines should really be all about the former DG who has resigned in disgrace and some of the other execs but it’s natural for the media to focus on the ‘celebrity’ involved.

However, IMO no reasonable adult could come out with this line unless they are spoofing or distracting:

‘It was a unique method of payment, and unfortunate for sure, but RTE management wanted it to be so. Ryan just got the money. He'd have been happy enough to be paid in a much more straightforward way.’

It is clear to anyone of an average reading age now that RT was far from ‘happy enough to be paid in a more much straightforward way’. Because that would have meant a pay cut like all the other top paid presenters took, including those represented by NK.

RT and NK arranged a unique deaL with the now disgraced DF (former DG) to keep the same pay while allowing RTÉ to pretend all top presenters including RT took a paycut. Why it is so obvious to anyone but a small child/spoofer/feeble minded that RT was not completely naive to all this is that NK (nor DF) did not arrange this for anyone else except RT.

It’s not crime of the century and he’s entitled to some due process and make a stake at keeping his lucrative career but that doesn’t mean reality has to be denied or facts changed.

I thought the poster was being genuine and just really liked RT until I read this 😄

I went for lunch with 3 friends a few days ago and out of us four, one liked Ryan Tubridy, listened to his show and wanted him back on RTE. So I've no doubt there would be plenty more people who want him back on the air. I have severe doubts that RTE will be able to build public confidence anyway so the license fee losses will continue. I think the government will be forced to introduce a broadcasting charge, collected by Revenue I suppose.

In fairness, the most trusted man in Ireland, the man with the most sunny disposition and kindness knows no limits. He is vindicated and so say we all.