Media Minister Catherine Martin has said that the future of RTÉ’s funding cannot be discussed until the organisation regains the public’s trust.
She made the comments just minutes after RTÉ announced that outgoing Director General Dee Forbes was suspended from her role on Wednesday.
It comes following revelations that Ryan Tubridy was paid €345,000 in excess of his published salary over a five-year period.
READ MORE: RTE salary scandal LIVE as Dee Forbes suspended over Ryan Tubridy payments controversy
Speaking to the media in south Dublin on Friday morning, Minister Martin confirmed that she was informed on Thursday that Ms Forbes had been suspended from her post.
She said that “damage has been done” and that “trust has been damaged with the public” by the controversy.
She also said that damage had been done to other RTÉ staff members.
When it was put to Minister Martin by the Irish Mirror that RTÉ has constantly claimed that it was underfunded during the period where it was paying Mr Tubridy his salary, she insisted that it will have to rebuild trust before funding is discussed again.
“What I would say is there is a question there about the future funding model of RTÉ,” she said.
“Obviously, that's something that we've been examining. That would have to be done in an environment of trust with the public. That's not there at the moment.
“Let's prioritise reestablishing the trust before you move on to the funding.
“The priority now is establishing the trust, getting to the end of this process that the board has taken out.
“I'd like to see the Executive Board make a comment on this too. The funding model, I believe, cannot be examined when we do not have trust.”
When asked if Ms Forbes will have to come forward and take questions, Ms Martin said that she was “cognisant that there has to be due process”.
Ms Martin confirmed that she was told in March that “there was an issue” with the routine annual audit.
She continued: “I became aware that it involved a presenter in the last few days.
“I did not know it involved the presenter in question until yesterday (Thursday).”
Asked if Mr Tubridy should hand back the money or resign, the Minister said that was a “matter for the individual themselves”.
“Trust has been broken within this entire process,” she added.
When asked if she had been lied to, Ms Martin said that she was disappointed with the “lack of transparency”.
She also said that the idea of resignations is a “matter for the board”.
Minister Martin said that RTÉ needs to answer questions at a meeting on Monday about how this happened, what actions will be taken and how they intend to build back trust.
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