A Clare Independent TD believes Dee Forbes should be compelled to appear before Oireachtas Committees.
It follows confirmation from the Director General of RTÉ today, that she is to step down with immediate effect.
Dee Forbes’ term as Director General was due to end on July 11th, but instead, she stood down today with immediate effect, saying she regrets the upset caused to staff in recent days.
She said she led the negotiations with Ryan Tubridy’s agent on his contract deal in 2020 and the arrangement arrived at was discussed with financial and legal colleagues – adding she didn’t act contrary to any advice.
Both the Oireachtas Media and Public Accounts Committee want to question Ms Forbes and other RTÉ representatives this week.
That looks unlikely in light of the resignation, but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said she should.
A Clare Independent TD has echoed those sentiments, saying she was effectively in a tax payer-funded position spending monies raised through the licence fee.
Michael McNamara also says there has to be a clear separation between what is public service broadcasting and what’s commercial broadcating, if RTÉ wants to justify the licence fee.
Otherwise, the Scariff TD says he finds it difficult to see how it can continue as is.
The National Union of Journalists says, meanwhile, that the resignation of Dee Forbes raises several fundamental issues.
In a statement, the NUJ says it would now be appropriate for the Chair of the RTÉ Board to meet with each member of the Executive Board.
Secretary of the Union Seamus Dooley says it would be to clarify their individual involvement, if any, or their knowledge of the arrangements to facilitate additional payments to Ryan Tubridy.
The statement goes on to say it would be a matter for the board to deal with the outcome of those meetings.
You can listen to the full interview here:
