RTE hands over key document after long-running battle with PAC

RTE has agreed to hand the Public Accounts Committee a key document relating to a controversial commercial deal and payments to former star presenter Ryan Tubridy, after a long-running dispute over whether the meeting note would be provided.

The document relates to notes taken by an RTE solicitor on a meeting between former director-general Dee Forbes and Tubridy’s agent Noel Kelly.

The meeting was central to a contentious commercial arrangement with a sponsor that saw RTE underwrite payments to Tubridy – a move that ultimately led to the organisation paying 150,000 euro to him when the sponsor chose not to renew the deal after one year.

RTE also provided PAC with a summary of the solicitor’s note, which it had drawn up as part of its “compromise” proposal to the committee earlier in the week.

That summary reveals information on what was recorded about the proposed commercial partnership with Renault, Tubridy and RTE.

It is noted in the summary that Ms Forbes would personally ensure that a portion of the sponsorship of the Late Late Show, which Tubridy was presenting at the time, would be given to Tubridy.

However this assurance could only be given orally, according to the summary.

The summary states: “Can’t write to confirm it as that will negate what we’re trying to do.”

It also said that Ms Forbes said it was unlikely that there would be a situation where there was no sponsor involved in the deal.

After a query relating to a change of director general, the summary shows that Ms Forbes is said to have advised that a guarantee essentially says RTE will pay Tubridy.

It is also noted in the summery that there was a request for flexibility on what the invoices involving Renault would say.

The summary emphasises that the note of the Microsoft Teams meeting is not a verbatim transcript.

RTE had previously said it was not in a position to deliver the original document to the heavyweight committee after taking legal advice.

The national broadcaster’s leadership had cited client confidentiality as a reason for not disclosing the note to the committee previously.

Current director-general Kevin Bakhurst said RTE had always held as an important principle that legal advice remains within the organisation and to move away from that would set a “unique precedent”.

However, in a letter to committee chair Brian Stanley on Friday, Mr Bakhurst agreed to provide a copy of the original note on the basis of assurances of confidentiality he had received from PAC.