Why is Dee Forbes leaving RTE?
Dee Forbes, the suspended director-general of RTE, has resigned from the Irish national broadcaster, saying she is “ultimately responsible” following the scandal over undisclosed payments to star presenter Ryan Tubridy.
Ms Forbes was suspended from the position last week and was already due to step down from her role next month.
In a statement, Ms Forbes said: “I regret very much the upset and adverse publicity suffered by RTE, its staff and the unease created among the public in recent days.
“As director-general, I am the person ultimately accountable for what happens within the organisation and I take that responsibility seriously.
“I am tendering my resignation to RTE with immediate effect.”
Ms Forbes said she had consistently co-operated with the processes directed towards answering questions surrounding payments to Tubridy.
On the negotiations for the controversial payments, Ms Forbes said: “I did not at any stage act contrary to any advice.
“We were motivated purely by the need to find a solution to honour the contractual obligation.
“At all times, I and the representatives of RTE acted in good faith. I fully accept and acknowledge responsibility for my part in these events as director-general.
She later added: “I want to reiterate that I have engaged fully with the board during this process.
“However, the board has not treated me with anything approaching the levels of fairness, equity and respect that anyone should expect as an employee, a colleague or a person.
“All of this has had a very serious and ongoing impact on my health and wellbeing.
“I am deeply sorry for what has happened and my part in this episode and for that I apologise unreservedly to everyone.
“I care very deeply about RTE, the people who work for it, the public it serves, its mission, values, its unique position as a public service broadcaster and its reputation.
“I will continue to do so as RTE moves forward under the new director-general.”
Read more: Tubridy apologises for not asking questions about reporting of his earnings
Leo Varadkar said Dee Forbes should appear before an Oireachtas committee over corporate governance issues at RTE after she resigned as director general of the national broadcaster.
“She has issued a very strong statement,” he said.
“I think people would like to hear her side of the story and her version of events.
“It is still open to her to attend the committee hearings and I think she should.”
Mr Varadkar said he was “very disappointed” about the RTE payments scandal but has confidence in the broadcaster’s board.
Speaking to reporters during the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy at Dublin Castle, he said the Government has initiated a “thorough review of the governance of RTE”.
He said work on reforming the TV licence has been suspended in the interim.
“But I do want to point out that RTE is a big organisation, the vast majority of people who work in RTE would have no knowledge or involvement in this whatsoever and indeed the board would have only known about it relatively recently,” he said.
“We need to make sure we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater here.”
Mr Varadkar said there is a need for individual accountability over the matter.
