Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee poll not working - pl ignore

StevenToast · 20-05-2026 09:50AM

Where is Dee Forbes?....

Time to haul her in front of an Oireachtas Committee....

No more excuses...

Peter Dragon · 20-05-2026 10:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484153#Comment_124484153

The latter two are mere addendums to The Ryan Tubridy Pay Scandal. That’s the one that people will remember most as the one that caused most reputational damage to the state broadcaster and whose legacy will always be tainted for his central role in it.

I doubt most people would even recognise Mooney let alone Rocks were they to walk the streets. The Toyman however can’t go anywhere in the world without being recognised….at least according to himself.

https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/rtes-ryan-tubridy-says-theres-27780267.amp

https://www.crimeworld.com/sundayworld/ryan-tubridy-says-there-is-no-escape-from-fans-as-he-is-recognised-all-over-the-world/a/104130103.html

Rather delicious it was featured in Crimeworld (above).

https://extra.ie/2022/07/02/entertainment/ryan-tubridy-recognised-world

There’s loads more, but I think that’s enough to give you a flavour of the piece.

Gift Grub enjoyed The Toyman’s humblebragging so much they dedicated a whole sketch to it:

https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/351353

The sketch is filled with The Toyman’s trademark lingo (intriguingly and curious get a nod), and some subtle nods to things like tapping the cue cards on the desk. The subtle dig re. selfies was delicious - a real if you know, you knowI think it’s fair to say they’re “fans”.

odyssey06 · 20-05-2026 10:32AM

The difference with Tubridy and the other instances is that there's no suggestion they were paid for work not done - unlike Tubridy and the sham Renault events, nor the involvement of barter account shenanigans inflating how much the sham events that were put on actually cost RTE.
Derek Mooney & Sean Rocks did presenter and producer work but RTE played silly games with how their remuneration was apportioned, with significant financial implications for Sean Rocks' family following his tragic death.

Cyclingtourist · 20-05-2026 10:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484277#Comment_124484277

Good points but Tubridy was paid according to the contract RTE negotiated with him and not a penny more AFAIK. If RTE paid him for 'work not done' that was also in RTE's contract with him.

Wiki call it 'The RTE Payments scandal' and I tend to agree.

Caquas · 20-05-2026 10:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124482875#Comment_124482875

Why didn’t RTÉ own Riverdance? They paid for it!

I never suggested they “owned” Gabriel Byrne or Dermot Morgan. I said they were examples of world class talent which RTÉ couldn’t wait to get rid of and who ran out of the place.

You think RTÉ should not earn money abroad😩. It is a measure of its failure to produce high-quality content that this revenue stream never materialised and is now not even deemed relevant to its near-bankruptcy. Although practically everything RTÉ ever produced was in English, giving it an immediate advantage over most other public broadcasters in the world. This failure long predates social media, the Internet, Fox News, or streaming or any other excuse you can think of.

In fairness, many, many years ago RTÉ provided a decent (not great) service on a shoe-string but once they started paying themselves like international stars, it was time to earn money in the international market

But this is the level of public debate so nothing will get fixed and RTÉ will continue its slow, expensive decline.

Cyclingtourist · 20-05-2026 11:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484319#Comment_124484319

The original Riverdance was a seven minute interval performance at Eurovision, it subsequently was developed as a longer stage show by the original creative team. RTE's record of turning TV performances into successful stage shows isn't quite as inspiring, the Toy Show the Musical which Tubridy had no part in comes to mind.

I've nothing against RTE earning foreign revenue where they can but it shouldn't be a driver of their activities.

Peter Dragon · 20-05-2026 11:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484303#Comment_124484303

But that’s not what it’s called. #TruthMatters

Peter Dragon · 20-05-2026 11:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484277#Comment_124484277

The Renault “events” not only “starred”” The Toyman, he also on those events interviewed stars from guess what talent agency? Just a coincidence of course, but a question that has never been answered is who paid for those stars to attend and did they all get €900+ chauffeur service driving to and from their homes?

Cyclingtourist · 20-05-2026 11:40AM

The latest 'scandals' are phoney ones that amount to musical chairs, who's left standing after all the ten chairs are occupied.

A self-scoop by RTE journalism to give their NUJ employees something to talk about.

Cluedo Monopoly · 20-05-2026 11:57AM

It actually annoys me seeing RTE management turning up for questions in the Oireachtas committees etc. They actually seem to enjoy it now. There is a sense of narcissism amongst them. Another day in the spotlight. They have no fear of it.

The lessons always is - if you fcuk up, FFG will bail you out with the promise of future favouritism.

expectationlost · 20-05-2026 12:32PM

Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/cr1-live/

Alan Kelly in the Chair, you know how he is.

TDs lecturing rather then asking questions

Adrian Lynch said it was DG and CFO that decided that Mooney should be categorised as a producer in 2020.

Dublin Calling · 20-05-2026 12:45PM

KB making sure to tell us the 725m was not a bailout!

Is RTE fit for purpose and Kevin are you fit for the job?

Ash.J.Williams · 20-05-2026 12:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484303#Comment_124484303

If I was offered that contract id assume it's a dodgy enterprise

expectationlost · 20-05-2026 12:59PM

Sinead Gibney highlighting the new RTE CFO is a KPMG consultant.

Dublin Calling · 20-05-2026 01:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484735#Comment_124484735

And loss of corporate knowledge due to all the other outsourcing. Actually this holds for almost all government organisations.

Dublin Calling · 20-05-2026 01:05PM

They can also ask the same questions about George Lee.

expectationlost · 20-05-2026 01:09PM

Adrian Lynch says Derek Mooney was given a 'personal contract' in 2007 where his pay diverged from the producer scale…

They give personal contract to people who hit a salary cap 'to keep them'.

Caquas · 20-05-2026 01:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484403#Comment_124484403

Thank you for illustrating my point. RTE would have destroyed Riverdance, the goldmine it accidentally discovered - the Toy Show fiasco is the latest proof.

Remember when we used to win Eurovision? The top brass in RTE hated that because it cost money they wanted to spend on themselves and, after 25 years of embarrassing failures, they found the perfect excuse this year to dump Eurovision permanently ie. until Hell freezes over.

Why don't we reduce RTE to a news/current affairs/sports broadcaster and use the savings to support creative enterprises? Oh, wait… that is the plan. Except RTE will keep all the money and still be bust.

Dublin Calling · 20-05-2026 01:14PM

Personal Contracts used to bypass the salary cap.

Dublin Calling · 20-05-2026 01:27PM

Neutrality problem in RTE, no diversity based on actual public opinion.

expectationlost · 20-05-2026 01:37PM

Mooney and Lee's salary number includes his pension.

Cyclingtourist · 20-05-2026 02:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484711#Comment_124484711

And turn it down, insisting on a salary of no more than €100k no doubt?

Cyclingtourist · 20-05-2026 02:32PM

Kevin Bakhurst has told the Oireachtas media committee that Oliver Callan, host of the mid-morning slot on RTÉ Radio 1, is in receipt of a second payment for the production of his Callan’s Kicks satirical show.
He told Fine Gael’s Micheál Carrigy there are some presenters who work for “independents” – independent production companies – and they are paid separately from their direct work.
“He earns as a presenter and he has a payment for Callan’s Kicks.” When it was put to him that if these two payments were taken on a combined basis, this would put Callan into the top 10 earners from the organisation, Bakhurst agreed: “He might be – he would be.”

Live updates: Oliver Callan receives second payment for production of his RTÉ satirical show, Bakhurst says – The Irish Times

Oliver Callan scandal?

Maybe more a case of 'kick Callan'.

More musical chairs.

expectationlost · 20-05-2026 02:48PM

Oliver Callan is paid three different ways by RTE as a presenters, via the Callan Kicks product company and as contractor of another Independent company.

Ash.J.Williams · 20-05-2026 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485038#Comment_124485038

I didn't say that , I said I'd know I'm joining a dodgy enterprise

Cyclingtourist · 20-05-2026 03:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485132#Comment_124485132

Scandalous?

With a Christian name like Oliver the possibilities for comedy are endless.

"Please Sir......"

Peter Dragon · 20-05-2026 04:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484505#Comment_124484505

True, they don’t remotely compare to The Ryan Tubridy Pay Scandal for controversy or column inches. Maybe Mooney and Rock need a better agent?

Peter Dragon · 20-05-2026 04:30PM

I’ve missed the day’s Oireachtas events, would anyone be able to give me a summary of what happened? @Cyclingtourist perhaps? You always seem to have a unique perspective on these things.

Floppybits · 20-05-2026 04:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484164#Comment_124484164

She will never be back. They gave her an out and she took it and as part of that she is the scapegoat as we seen today.

EmmetSpiceland · 20-05-2026 04:59PM

Looks like Callan is coining more than anyone else there. He needs to come clean on what he makes from the state broadcaster.

No terrible impressions or awful attempts at humour, just absolute clarity with no silly voices.

Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee *poll not working - pl ignore*

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Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee poll not working - pl ignore