RTE’s director-general has stated he doesn’t consider that Ryan Tubridy has “owned his mistakes” in relation to RTE’s under-declaration of the star presenter’s wage, after talks on his return to the airwaves abruptly ended.
Kevin Bakhurst introduced final evening that there at the moment are no plans for Tubridy, previously RTE’s highest-paid star, to return to his presenting position on the Irish nationwide broadcaster.
It follows an argument over RTE’s under-declaration of his wage, which has widened out to probes launched into RTE’s monetary affairs, accounting practices, governance and spending on promoting shoppers.
Mr Bakhurst stated final evening negotiations with Tubridy about returning to his radio present had concluded after stating that belief between the events had “broken down”, however added the “door is still open” for a future return.
I do suppose that everybody has obtained to just accept these stories in full and never in components and never making an attempt to spin their very own narratives
Kevin Bakhurst
Mr Bakhurst stated he was “particularly disappointed” with Tubridy’s response to a extremely anticipated report into the presenter’s earnings, which the director-general claimed questioned corrected figures for the interval of 2020 and 2021.
Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland programme on Friday, in his third interview with RTE in 12 hours, Mr Bakhurst stated Tubridy was “shocked and disappointed” with the choice to not proceed with negotiations, including he didn’t suppose Tubridy noticed the choice coming.
He stated that RTE workers “were strongly divided” about whether or not Tubridy ought to return, however added that he’s a “hugely talented broadcaster” and he felt it was the appropriate factor to attempt to convey him again.
“I felt there was an issue throughout about the need to accept your role in what has been a hugely damaging scandal for everybody involved, and particularly for RTE,” Mr Bakhurst informed Morning Ireland.
He stated the interim management staff was consulted over the choice they usually agreed.
“They realised like I did, it was a tough decision but they also realise we’ve got a job to do.”
Mr Bakhurst stated that to query finalised stories into the under-declaration of Ryan Tubridy’s charges was “counter-productive” including “we can’t be going around in circles arguing about this”.
“I do think that everyone has got to accept those reports in full and not in parts and not trying to spin their own narratives.
“We’ve got to own our mistakes,” he stated, and when requested whether or not he believed Tubridy had carried out that, he stated “No, I don’t.”
He stated that discussions had begun with the top of Radio One and the appearing head of content material about Tubridy’s alternative.