Dee Forbes quits RTÉ after undisclosed payments controversy

The suspended Director General of RTÉ, Dee Forbes, has resigned with immediate effect after controversy over undisclosed payments to presenter Ryan Tubridy. The TV and radio host was paid €345.000 more than had been published in the Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster's earnings reports, and apparently received the payments between 2017 and 2022.

“I regret very much the upset and adverse publicity suffered by RTÉ, 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 organization and I take that responsibility seriously. I am tendering my resignation to RTÉ with immediate effect,”  Forbes said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Ryan Tubridyrecently stood down as the host of RTÉ One's “The Late Late Show,” which is Ireland's longest-running TV chat show, with Northern Ireland comedian Patrick Kielty announced as his replacement. Tubridy has hosted the talk show since 2009. He also hosts a weekday show on RTÉ Radio One, but has not been on air since the controversy surrounding payments made to him arose.

The payments made to Tubridy were uncovered after the company's auditors alerted the board to some of the transactions. Then, Forbes was suspended from her role by the RTÉ board and had been due to step down in July.