Breaking | 
Irish Independent Newsdesk
Today at 16:38
Irish broadcaster Ryan Tubridy has repaid RTÉ a sum of €150,000 he received as part of a controversial payment deal made in 2020.
Tubridy left the national broadcaster following weeks of controversy relating to the organisation publicly under-reporting payments to him.
Tubridy was to be paid a total €225,000 over three years by the national broadcaster as part of a deal to top up his salary, which was not disclosed by RTÉ.
The presenter was paid two instalments of €75,000 by RTÉ for personal appearances for commercial sponsor Renault as part of the contentious deal.
The deal involved Tubridy making three appearances per year at Renault events. RTÉ executives previously said Renault paid Tubridy the first 75,000 payment, but then pulled out of the tripartite deal.
The sums were processed through a barter account, which shielded the payments from public view. Tubridy participated in one promotional event for Renault, but the second and third events did not place. The sums were not classified in the broadcaster’s annual accounts as salary payments.
In 2023, the director general Kevin Bakhurst said it might not be possible to recuperate this money on a legal basis, but he believed there was a “moral case” for Tubridy to make the repayment.
He told an Oireachtas committee in July 2023 that there is probably no legal obligation for them to do so.
Today’s News in 90 seconds – 8th August 2025
In a statement issued on behalf of Mr Tubridy, he said: “Earlier today I made a payment of 150,000 euro to RTÉ.
“I made this payment through my solicitor, without any discussions with RTÉ – or with anyone acting on their behalf – and without condition.
“I have said on various occasions that I intended making this payment and I’m happy to have been able to do so today.”
Tubridy was the long-time host of RTÉ’s flagship Late Late Show on Irish TV.
He now presents a show on Virgin Radio UK.