About our RTE news
Latest news on RTÉ, including the RTÉ pay scandal, a controversy that erupted in June 2023, when it was revealed that the Irish public broadcaster had made undisclosed payments to its star presenter Ryan Tubridy, who hosted the popular talk show The Late Late Show and a radio programme on RTÉ Radio One.
The scandal led to the resignation of RTÉ's director general Dee Forbes on 26 June 2023, who admitted that she had approved the payments to Tubridy without informing the board or the public.The scandal also revealed RTÉ's use of a barter account mechanism to fund corporate entertainment for advertising clients, such as trips to Japan and UEFA Champions League matches.
The Irish government announced a two-branch independent review of RTÉ's governance and culture, as well as contractor fees and other matters. The Oireachtas (Irish parliament) also launched an investigation into the scandal and summoned Tubridy, Kelly, and other RTÉ executives to appear before its committees.
The scandal led to public outrage and a loss of trust in RTÉ, as well as a decline in licence fee payments. The Director General of RTÉ Dee Forbes resigned after being suspended by the RTÉ Board chairperson Siún Ní Raghallaigh. The Government of Ireland refused to provide interim funding to RTÉ until it received a reform strategy from its new Director General, Kevin Bakhurst.