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Ryan Tubridy, the presenter at the centre of RT\u00c9’s pay controversy, will say he “became the face of a national scandal”.<\/p>\n
The comments come as Mr Tubridy, and his agent Noel Kelly, face questions from politicians on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
An audit of the Irish broadcaster’s finances found Mr Tubridy was paid \u20ac345,000 (\u00a3296,800) more than was declared publicly between 2017 and 2022.<\/p>\n
It will be the first time the former Late Late Show presenter will speak publicly since the payments were revealed last month.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
“I am here to do one thing and one thing only: to set the record straight and to call out some untruths.”<\/p>\n
Mr Tubridy points to a statement made by RT\u00c9 on 22 June which “inextricably linked my name to this whole fiasco”.<\/p>\n
“I signed a contract in good faith. I declared my earnings and paid my taxes,” he will outline.<\/p>\n
“My employer has acknowledged that it has engaged in deceptive practices to pay me – practises that were hidden from me.<\/p>\n
“The result? I become the face of a national scandal; accused of being complicit, deceitful and dishonest.”<\/p>\n
Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly will face questions from members of the media committee later on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
On Monday, RT\u00c9’s new director general Kevin Bakhurst stood down the organisation’s executive team<\/a> in response to the controversy.<\/p>\n In an all-staff email, he said “the culture in RT\u00c9 needs change, from top to bottom”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n