RTÉ has succumbed to requests from the Public Accounts Committee to provide a legal note detailing a meeting between Dee Forbes and Ryan Tubridy’s agent.
The note was taken by a lawyer during a Microsoft Teams call between the former RTÉ Director General, and Noel Kelly, Mr Tubridy’s agent in May 2020.
It has been argued that RTÉ agreed to underwrite the €75,000 a year payments to Mr Tubridy from Renault during this meeting.
A summary of the note, provided to PAC members and seen by the Irish Mirror, stated that Ms Forbes would “personally ensure that a portion of the sponsorship will always be apportioned to the individual”.
READ MORE: Paschal Donohoe calls on RTÉ and PAC to resolve legal note argument
When asked about the prospect of a “side letter” being provided, the summary stated that Ms Forbes could “only” provide an “oral” confirmation of the agreement.
It reads: “The former Director General will ensure any sponsorship of the Late Late Show would involve a portion like they were talking a lot here [sic].
“But only oral. Can’t write to confirm it as that will negate what we’re trying to do”.
The note then “refers to person from NK Management” who said that they believed RTÉ would “underwrite” the arrangement.
It went on to say that it “cannot in formal sense” as "that would compromise what we are trying to achieve”.
It does not state, however, what RTÉ or NK Management was “trying to achieve”.
It continued: “RTÉ were creative, client and talent happy with it, but rules/regs and sanctions
prevented RTÉ providing a letter.”
The summary states that NK Management said that “this would be a problem” and was “not what was agreed”.
“Can we look at something if another sponsor, what if no sponsor?” the agent asked.
They stated that this would be a “big problem” as “teams change and we’ve no guarantee on this”.
The summary stated that Ms Forbes appeared to “indicate that we all want this to work; we’ve reputations to uphold”.
It continued: “‘Cold comfort’ in this time. Not perfect – Best we can do.”
NK Management also queried what would happen if another Director General was appointed.
The note continued: “No way around this. The guarantee [essentially] says RTÉ will pay the talent.”
RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst previously said the note could not be provided due to legal advice received by the national broadcaster. PAC members told him that they would compel it if it was not handed over.
In an email sent to committee members on Friday evening, it was confirmed that the note had been provided but would only be available to view on a “confidential basis”.
The summary was provided until members meet again to view the confidential note in full.
Kevin Bakhurst said “RTÉ will also provide the Committee with a detailed summary of the solicitor’s note on an open
basis, and without restriction. This is the summary of the note that we had drawn up as part of our proposed compromise.”
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