Ryan Tubridy’s future at RTÉ will be decided “in a matter of a few weeks probably”, Kevin Bakhurst has said.
Following the revelation that the broadcaster had made hidden payments to him over a number of years, Mr Tubridy was suspended from his job as a radio presenter.
Testifying before TDs and Senators today, Mr Tubridy said he could be “out of a job by Friday” - something RTÉ’s new Director General said was not the case.
“He’s wrong about this week,” Mr Bakhurst told The Hard Shoulder.
“He won’t be out of a job by the end of this week. This is a big decision for me and for RTÉ and it needs to be properly considered and we might need a little bit of time.
“I don’t want it to be too long because it’s not fair to Ryan and it’s not fair to RTÉ.
“But I want to talk to staff, I want to talk to my new leadership team; this is a serious decision for RTÉ and I want to be fair and I want to make the right decision for audiences and for RTÉ.”
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When pressed about a timeframe, Mr Bakhurst replied, “I suspect it will be in a matter of a few weeks probably.”
Mr Bakhurst also said he “feels really sorry” for Mr Tubridy and that he hoped to speak to him about the controversy soon.
“I will do at the right time,” he said.
“It’s difficult at the moment, as you can imagine, with this going on and I need to say, as you know, I started the job two days ago.”
Noel Kelly
Also testifying before the Oireachtas today was Mr Tubridy’s agent, Noel Kelly, who negotiated the controversial payments.
Mr Bakhurst said that while “some people in RTÉ behaved shamefully”, he was unsure if the broadcaster was solely to blame for the controversy.
“From what I’ve seen of it so far - and I’ve only been in the job two days and I’ve obviously been across some of it - the negotiations involved RTÉ and Noel Kelly,” he said.
He added that one of the jobs of an agent is to promote a positive image of their client and that Mr Kelly had not done so in the case of Mr Tubridy.
"His job is to represent his client and get the best deal and protect the reputation of his client," he said.
“I think events speak for themselves."
Mr Kelly has been contacted for comment.
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Main image: Ryan Tubridy arriving at Leinster House. Photo: oireachtas.ie
