RTÉ DG has ‘good, open, constructive’ conversation with Ryan Tubridy

RTÉ has confirmed that its director general Kevin Bakhurst met Ryan Tubridy in person this week for a “one-to-one meeting”.

The meeting is believed to be the first time that the pair have met since the RTÉ controversy first emerged last month.

“They had a good, open, and constructive conversation and will meet again in a few weeks. RTÉ has no further comment,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

[ Capping pay levels at RTÉ not ruled out, says Minister as Ryan Tubridy set to meet Kevin Bakhurst to discuss future ]

Mr Bakhurst previously told The Irish Times that he would contact Mr Tubridy to arrange several long conversations with him about his future with the station.

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“These are the kinds of decisions you are never going to get 100 per cent support for but in the end, I’ve got to make the right, fair and correct decision I think for audiences, for RTÉ and for Ryan and I want to treat Ryan fairly,” Mr Bakhurst said.

Asked when any decision would be made, he said that Mr Tubridy was due to go on holiday and he himself was taking time off at the end of July and he wanted a decision before then.

Mr Bakhurst also said he will not deal with, or talk to, Mr Tubridy’s agent, Noel Kelly.

RTÉ has been engulfed in the biggest crisis of its history since it disclosed that €345,000 in undeclared payments were made to Mr Tubridy over several years, saying it discovered the discrepancy through a “routine audit” of its accounts.

The controversy widened when hearings by the Oireachtas Media Committee and Public Accounts Committee drew out revelations related to accounting and culture at the broadcaster extending far beyond the payments to Mr Tubridy.

Mr Tubridy, who stepped down as presenter of the Late Late Show earlier this year, expressed his wish to return to his RTÉ Radio One show during his appearances before two Oireachtas committee hearings with Mr Kelly last week.

“I don’t have any doubt – I want to go back to work on the radio as soon as possible,” he said. “I don’t say that with any arrogance. I just express desire. It’s what I do, it’s what I know. And I want to get back to my team and the listeners.”

Ray Gordon, a representative for Mr Tubridy, acknowledged the statement from RTÉ about the talks with Mr Bakhurst and noted that the presenter was in agreement that the meeting was constructive.

Seamus Dooley, of the National Union of Journalists said that the statement had been noted by the union, but added that the problems at RTÉ were greater than one person.

“This is only one part of a bigger picture,” Mr Dooley said.

He said the union was “looking forward” to the Government review into the public broadcaster, and the “culture” that has been prevalent there over the last number of years.