During the committee hearing, Mr. Tubridy clarified that his contract with RTÉ allowed him to engage in other professional endeavors.
Furthermore, he stated that there was no attempt on his part to conceal any supposed “secret agreement” with Renault.
He emphasized, “RTÉ’s inaccurate declarations have created the false impression that I lack honesty, which is far from the truth.”
Mr. Tubridy added, “I had no knowledge that RTÉ had been concealing payments made to me.
“I signed my contract in good faith, declaring my earnings and paying every cent of tax due.
“It has been acknowledged by my employer that they engaged in deceptive practices to compensate me, practices that they deliberately kept hidden from me.
“As a consequence, I have been unjustly thrust into the spotlight of a national scandal, facing accusations of complicity, deceit, and dishonesty.”
However, Mr. Tubridy acknowledged “full responsibility” for not probing further into how his pay was being declared by the broadcaster.
The undisclosed payments to Mr. Tubridy were facilitated through a “barter account” operated by the organization, although the exact mechanism remains unclear.
Typically, media companies utilize such accounts to trade advertising space for goods and services instead of cash payments.
During the Oireachtas media committee session, Mr. Tubridy and Mr. Kelly faced questioning from TDs.
Noel Kelly informed the politicians that he had no prior experience with a barter system.
He stated, “Up until this point, I had never encountered a barter system. The entity known as Astus was unfamiliar to us.”
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Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
