RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

Exactly.

It has to be underlined that RTE is in debt for years and years now.

And they still give ludicrous salaries to mediocre presenters. Claire Byrne on nearly 300 grand a year.

SF could give Tubridy's cousin Catherine Martin's job make everything rosy for him

Not yet but give them time

While his banishment may not be for all eternity, I find it hard to see Tubs returning in any substantial way while Bakhurst is running the show. IMO doing that would severely undermine KB's authority and credibility as the man to lead RTE to a bright new future

I think KB has already shown that he hasn't the credibility or authority to be that man.

The equivalent presenter on Virgin is probably on 100k and has a fraction of the support staff.

If they were to have RTÉ top presenter salaries, I don't think the lineup would be much different

I haven't read the entire article due to a paywall. I just watched the 2 minute video clip but I'm just as baffled as you are by these 'new revelations'.

It's highly likely that my take on the €120,000 'Loyalty' payment has been wrong all this time but here's my understanding of it:

1. RTEs' and NKM definition of 'Loyalty' fee are conflicting. RTE would pay the fee at the end of the 2019 contract if they had required Tubridys' services for more than the agreed hours in his regular contract. As no additional services were required, RTE felt they didn't have to pay the additional fee. NKM however, defined the fee as a 'use it or lose it'. Essentially a 'retainer'.
2. Tubridy and NK were not prepared to forego this payment despite Tubridys claim of waiving it (with no credible explanation given as to why) at the PAC hearings. RTE had to somehow find a way to get this payment to Tubridy without officially declaring it as it would have increased his fee above the officially stated amount. Hence, the payments made to NKM for 'consultancy' as invoiced thru the barter account during the pandemic years.

Admittedly, there maybe some holes in my theory but in my defense, there's an awful lot of feckin' holes in RTEs' explanation as well! As for the Indo's take on the matter.. well it's difficult to know what to believe considering their recently adopted pro Tubridy agenda.

There doesn't need to be a cap, what there needs to be is an actual realignment with Irish media market rates. Do we really think there is another media organisation out there willing to pay €295k for Claire Byrne's services.

I think not.

The big salaries in RTE for the "talent" were ego driven on behalf of management, not market driven.

Maybe pedantic but since Tubridy is not an employee he wasnt really sacked, just his contract wasnt renewed. And hes supposed to have other clients anyway!

I'm a sole trader. So in the same sphere. If it happened to me it is still a sacking just with a different tax setup and related obligations. I'd say you're being pedantic.

Not more than 100k.

Re your first paragraph , RT has had the opportunity for 20 years + to deliver such a presentation and has failed to do so 100%. He is incapable of asking the tough questions or holding anyone to account. It’s just not in him.

fe second para, yes he is good at presenting drivel, hot air, etc. so I’ ll give him 80%.

there are moves here on boards to slowly walk him back into RTE. Why not give someone else a chance. He has made his money and if he has it all spent well that’s his problem. There is plenty of raw and some experienced talent out there only to be given a chance. Why not run a programme like Strictly Dancing or those singing competitions to find a presenter. They, for example, interview live some local ‘ celebrity from their area.

NO ONE IS IRREPLACABLE

eh just so we’re clear here, I’m not advocating a Tubridy return and I didn’t even point in that direction - just so you are aware. Not sure what what prompted you to say that based on quoting my post.

As for efforts on boards to bring Tubridy back, I haven’t seen any serious attempts to do that bar a couple of trolls making mischief which are merely entertaining more than anything

I’m kindof with you with Byrne but she seems to have her followers and as for drive time, for donkeys years it was one of the most serious shows on radio, completely lacking a sense of humour and thriving in misery, death, taxes, housing, poverty - you name the misery and they were there- but I’d much prefer that to the sh1t show that’s being produced now.

edit- jezuz damn boards and its stupid predictive text