Ryan Tubridy says he became the face of RTÉ pay scandal

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Ryan Tubridy, the presenter at the centre of RTÉ’s pay controversy, will say he “became the face of a national scandal”.

The comments come as Mr Tubridy, and his agent Noel Kelly, face questions from politicians on Tuesday.

An audit of the Irish broadcaster’s finances found Mr Tubridy was paid €345,000 (£296,800) more than was declared publicly between 2017 and 2022.

It will be the first time the former Late Late Show presenter will speak publicly since the payments were revealed last month.

In his opening remarks to the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) Public Accounts Committee he will say it has been his “darkest hour both professionally and personally”.

“I am here to do one thing and one thing only: to set the record straight and to call out some untruths.”

Mr Tubridy points to a statement made by RTÉ on 22 June which “inextricably linked my name to this whole fiasco”.

“I signed a contract in good faith. I declared my earnings and paid my taxes,” he will outline.

“My employer has acknowledged that it has engaged in deceptive practices to pay me – practises that were hidden from me.

“The result? I become the face of a national scandal; accused of being complicit, deceitful and dishonest.”

Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly will face questions from members of the media committee later on Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday, RTÉ’s new director general Kevin Bakhurst stood down the organisation’s executive team in response to the controversy.

In an all-staff email, he said “the culture in RTÉ needs change, from top to bottom”.

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