Former RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes was “directly involved” in negotiating aspects of Ryan Tubridy’s contract, RTÉ has confirmed. 

In a statement detailing why Mr Tubridy’s salary was published incorrectly, RTÉ set out how Mr Tubridy’s contract differed from other broadcasters. 

RTÉ said the salaries of their top 10 broadcasters are usually signed off by the Director General. 

However, in Mr Tubridy’s case “the Director General was directly involved in aspects of the negotiations”.

The broadcaster also said that, “No member of the RTÉ Executive Board, other than the Director General, had all the necessary information in order to understand that the publicly declared figures for Ryan Tubridy could have been wrong.”

The statement added that Ms Forbes "has not had the opportunity to respond to the details set out below and may therefore challenge or disagree with our understanding and position."

The statement doesn't cover the years prior to 2020, but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says there must be answers on that time period too.

"I don't know exactly why it's the case that we don't have more detail on the payments between 2017 and 2019," he said.

"I will endeavour to find out more information on that today. I know that there is an inquiry going on in relation to that - and we will get that information."

Main image: Dee Forbes at RTÉ studios at Donnybrook, Dublin in 2016. Picture by: RollingNews.ie