RTÉ’s interim Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch has disputed Noel Kelly’s claim that he “never met with” former DG Dee Forbes alone.
On Wednesday, Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel appeared before two Oireachtas Committees – the Public Accounts Committee and the Media Committee.
During the hearing, Mr Kelly maintained that he and Ms Forbes has never met together privately, while disputing that he had influence at the top level of RTÉ.
Mr Kelly repeatedly insisted that he’d never even had a “cup of tea” with Ms Forbes.
On Thursday, the RTÉ Board – including new DG Kevin Bakhurst, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee.
During the hearing, Mr Lynch provided a record of a Microsoft Teams call between Mr Kelly and Ms Forbes alone back last April – which was at a time when the talent agent was chasing payment.
The interim Deputy DG later provided emails between Mr Kelly and Ms Forbes asking RTÉ’s former Director of Commercial Geraldine O’Leary to send on the invoicing details.
RTÉ was plunged into chaos when it was revealed that Ryan’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 RTÉ Board issued an apology over the error, and later Ryan also apologised for not questioning RTÉ over his published earnings.
The scandal resulted in the suspension of RTÉ’s Director General Dee Forbes, who later resigned from her role.
Over the weekend, RTÉ’s Director of Strategy Rory Coveney resigned from his role with immediate effect having appeared a number of times before multiple Oireachtas Committees.
On Monday, RTÉ’s new Director General Kevin Bakhurst confirmed the disbandment of the Executive Board when he took over office from Ms Forbes.
Later that day, Commercial Director Geraldine O’Leary later announced her early retirement.
