Ryan Tubridy looked cool and calm as he went jogging yesterday just days ahead of a grilling by TDs on the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
His run in the sun was a world away from the turmoil that has convulsed RTE since the disclosure he received hundreds of thousands of Euro in secret top-up payments. Wearing sunglasses, black shorts and a T-shirt, the former Late Late host didn’t seem to have a care in the world as he returned to his plush South Dublin residence.
While he and a female pal didn’t venture too far from his home yesterday, it has been reported that he could soon be off to London for money-spinning talks with broadcasters about future work in the UK. While his future with RTE is unclear, it is understood that he is set to meet with British TV and radio executives later this month.
But before that he and his agent Noel Kelly will face a grilling by the PAC who will want to know why he took a pay cut but also received payments of €360,000 from the now infamous barter account.
Read more: Newstalk presenter Ciara Kelly 'steps away' from agent Noel Kelly of NK Management
It is understood that the PAC will focus on seven areas of interest when Tubridy and Noel Kelly appear before them on Tuesday.
Unlike the other RTE executives who appeared before the Committee in recent days both men will be accompanied by their lawyers who will be there in an observational capacity.
Members of the PAC will quiz the pair about Mr Tubridy’s contractual relationships with RTE, including related payments and exit fees. They will also want to know more about the convoluted process relating to the tripartite agreement (with Renault) and how it was negotiated and who signed off on it.
The seven specific areas include:
- Payments to presenters and personnel at RTE, specifically from 2017 to date.
- Details of Ryan Tubridy’s contractual relationships with RTE, including related payments and exit fees.
The process relating to the tripartite agreement, including its negotiation and sign-off. They will also want to know the content of the tripartite agreement, and the issue of it being underwritten by RTE.
- The raising of associated invoices and related payments, the details of the invoices, and who was aware of the same.
- Any instructions given by Ryan Tubridy to Noel Kelly, and any further discussions in that regard before finalisation of the agreement.
- The call of May 7, 2020 and the letter that followed from Ms Dee Forbes to Mr. Ryan Tubridy.
- Any matters arising from the material that you will provide to the Committee in advance of the meeting, and that RTE are expected to provide to the Committee by Monday.
It is already known that Mr Tubridy’s agent Noel Kelly was involved in the negotiations that saw Mr Tubridy receive €345,000 more from RTE over six years than was disclosed to the public or Oireachtas.
Also last week it emerged that Ryan Tubridy was given a written guarantee his pay would not be cut by former RTE Director General Dee Forbes.
RTE has been in turmoil since it was revealed last month that it under-reported the salary paid to Ryan Tubridy.
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