The publication of the letter comes after a review of RTÉ discovered more barter accounts.
Dee Forbes wrote a letter to Ryan Tubridy promising not to cut his salary. The former Director General of RTÉ gave the former Late Late host a “personal guarantee” that his pay would not decrease between April 2020 and March 2025.
The letter was sent in July 2020 and has been published by The Independent.
It reads:
“The purpose of this correspondence is to record in writing our guarantee and undertaking that the fees set out in this agreement will be paid by RTÉ without any reductions and RTÉ shall not make any request or inquiry from you in relation to a reduction in the agreed fees during the currency of the agreement save as to those that might be imposed by changes to legislation.”
The publication of the letter comes after a review of the broadcaster’s finances discovered more barter accounts.
On Tuesday night. (4 July), RTÉ clarified it has several barter accounts, despite its Chief Financial Officer Richard Collins previously claiming there was only one.
Speaking at last week’s parliamentary committee, Collins confirmed hundreds of transactions were made using the account.
€1.25 million was spent, including on IRFU tickets, trips to Japan, as well as a Champions League final trip in 2019.
RTÉ has since confirmed there are three barter accounts, claiming the other two were used for “hospitality and client entertainment”.
A Joint Oireachtas Committee will take place later on Wednesday.
Read more:
- Minister rubbishes reports that RTÉ set for job cuts or selloff of assets
- Late Late Show’s upcoming season will be a lot shorter, confirms RTÉ
- RTÉ’s chief financial officer says he does not know his ‘exact salary’
- Center Parcs opt against renewing sponsorship of The Ryan Tubridy Show
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