RTÉ Staff Deny Misleading Oireachtas Committees

Thursday, 13 July 2023 14:10

The meeting with the Public Accounts Committee has just come to a close.

RTÉ's Adrian Lynch has denied misleading the Oireachtas during testy exchanges at the Public Accounts Committee this afternoon.

The Interim Deputy Director General has questioned the testimony of Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly with regard to payments to the broadcaster.

He's said Mr. Tubridy doesn't owe event appearances to anyone - contrary to Mr. Tubridy's own understanding of events.

Director General Kevin Bakhurst says he would welcome Mr. Tubridy returning the €150,000 he was paid under the so-called tri-partite agreement.

Adrian Lynch tried to read a text from former Chief Financial Officer Breda O'Keefe into the committee record.

Ms. O'Keefe declined to attend the committee meeting today.

Committee members questioned how seriously Mr. Lynch is taking the work of the Oireachtas:

RTÉ has challenged the evidence of Ryan Tubridy and agent Noel Kelly about the guarantee given to underwrite commercial revenue from Renault to the presenter.

Adrian Lynch has contested evidence put forward by the former Late Late Show presenter on Tuesday:

RTÉ's Director General Kevin Bakhurst has also been giving evidence:

Independent TD Verona Murphy doesn't believe the suggestion at the committee that underwriting the Renault deal was a solo run by former Director General Dee Forbes:

RTÉ's Director General says he doesn't accept Ryan Tubridy's "seven untruths" which were outlined in Oireachtas Committee hearings on Tuesday.

Kevin Bakhurst was questioned by TD Alan Kelly:

Adrian Lynch told the committee he doesn't accept Noel Kelly's evidence that he didn't know RTÉ would be picking up the tab for the Renault deal after year one:

Alan Kelly, one of a number of committee members, was frustrated at the lack of clarity from RTÉ:

Under questioning from TD Imelda Munster, Adrian Lynch said he knew about an email promising a guarantee of the Renault deal when he last appeared at the committee:

The Committee meeting came to a close earlier this afternoon, and PAC Chair and Laois Offaly Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley credited the work of RTÉ staff in his closing address: