There are still questions to be answered over the payments controversy in RTÉ, one Senator has said.

Senator Micheál Carrigy, who is a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee, said the broadcaster's Director-General Kevin Bakhurst should also come before it.

Mr Bakhurst has said there are currently no plans for Ryan Tubridy to return to his presenting role at RTÉ.

It came after a Grant Thornton report showed that on the 'balance of probabilities', RTÉ understated the salary to Mr Tubridy to keep his payments below €500,000.

It also found a payment of €120,000, which Mr Tubridy was entitled to as an exit fee for a previous contract, was not made by RTÉ as it had been waived by the presenter.

In a statement on Thursday, Mr Bakhurst said: "I have decided not to continue with negotiations and, as such, there are no plans for Ryan to return to his presenting role with RTÉ at this time.

"Despite having agreed some of the fundamentals, including fee, duration and hours, regretfully, it is my view that trust between the parties has broken down."

RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst is seen at the broadcaster following a meeting with the NUJ in July 2023. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Mr Bakhurst said the misstatement of fees "should never have happened", and that he is "absolutely committed to restoring trust in this organisation following a shameful period in our history".

The Oireachtas Media Committee will meet in private next Tuesday to discuss the payments controversy, followed by a public session on September 13th.

Senator Carrigy said they will invite Mr Bakhurst to that meeting following the Grant Thornton report's findings.

"I feel it's important that the committee invite back in the new Director-General, key members of the executive management of RTÉ and then the current Chair of the Board Siún Ní Raghallaigh to discuss the implications of that report and allow members of the committee to ask further questions," he said.

Senator Carrigy said they want to see a line drawn under the payments scandal.

"We want to see this saga put behind us, we need a strong public sector broadcaster and we want to see RTÉ getting back on to a stronger footing," he said.

"But ultimately there's [questions] that haven't been answered heretofore.

"I would love to see [RTÉ Director of Content] Jim Jennings come in - he hasn't come in before either meeting," he added.

Reporting by: Cliona O'Dwyer

Main image: An RTÉ logo at the station's headquarters in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie