RTÉ’s Director of Strategy Rory Coveney has resigned with immediate effect.
In a statement, Mr Coveney said: “I met with [incoming Director General] Kevin [Bakhurst] over the past few days and told him I believed the tough job ahead of him would be made somewhat easier if he had a fresh lead team.”
“I’ve tendered my resignation immediately to give him the space to do that. Having worked with Kevin before, I’ve absolute faith in him. He’s the right person to rebuild the national broadcaster. I wish him the very best.”
Meanwhile, Mr Bakhurst commented: “I want to express my sincere thanks to Rory for his significant contribution to public service media during his time in RTÉ.”
“As Strategic Adviser to the Director General, and latterly as Director of Strategy, Rory steered the organisation through a period of unprecedented change in media, while overseeing RTÉ’s complex strategy and public affairs units.”
“His diligence, energy and insight were hugely appreciated by many across the organisation. I wish him the very best for the future.”
Mr Coveney has held various roles within RTÉ since 2007.
RTÉ was plunged into chaos 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 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.
Last Wednesday, the RTÉ Board and executives arrived at Leinster House to provide evidence to the joint committee on tourism, culture, arts, sport and media amid the ongoing scandal.
The following day, they arrived at Leinster House once again, this time to face questioning from the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee.
During the initial hearing, it emerged that RTÉ underwrote a commercial sponsorship of Ryan by Renault.
RTÉ labelled invoices of €75,000 payments as “consultancy fees” and the now-infamous barter account was used to pay them.
Notably absent from Leinster House on both occasions were Ryan, his agent Noel Kelly and former Director General Dee Forbes.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called on the three parties to appear before an Oireachtas Committee.
Ryan and Noel later offered to help the Oireachtas Media Committee next week with their inquiries into the payments scandal.
A letter from Hayes Solicitors, on behalf of its clients Ryan and Noel, sent to the chair of the media committee Niamh Smyth, stated: “Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly wish to fully cooperate and assist with your Committee’s investigations”.
