RTÉ have confirmed that a staff member who had a loan of a car for five years without their approval has since returned it.
Brand deals between RTÉ talent and other companies have been subject to intense scrutiny ever since the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal hit headlines last month.
While the deals are separate to RTÉ contracts, it’s understood they have to be approved by a line manager at the state broadcaster.
On Wednesday, the RTÉ Board and executives arrived at Leinster House once again, this time to face questioning from the Oireachtas Media Committee.
During the meeting, Interim Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch was quizzed about staff members who have car allowances.
Mr. Lynch said he is aware of one instance where someone had a “loan of a car” under a commercial partnership , and that that staff member is also in receipt of a car allowance.
He confirmed the car was on loan to them for five years, before adding: “That was not approved.”
When asked if he knew when the loaned car was returned, Mr. Lynch replied: “Yesterday.”
Last week, Mr. Lynch insisted that the “lucrative” car deals that some of their contractors receive have “nothing to do” with RTÉ.
When asked about brand ambassadorships and car deals in front of an Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, he said he knows of one contractor who has a commercial deal with a car company – but explained it has nothing to do with their RTÉ contract.
He said that person who has been given a car is a staff member in RTÉ, but he did not name them as they were not present at the Oireachtas meeting on the day.
Mr. Lynch added that the deals, which he branded “lucrative”, must be cleared with their line manager.
RTÉ was plunged into chaos last month when it was revealed that Ryan Tubridy’s earnings were publicly understated by €345,000 over the last six years.
The issue was identified during a routine audit of RTÉ’s 2022 accounts, prompting an independent review of the matter.
The scandal resulted in the suspension of RTÉ’s Director General Dee Forbes, who later resigned from her role.
