RTÉ could end up in court over Ryan Tubridy’s previous contract after it was announced he was not returning to his radio show. 

That’s according to former Minister and broadcaster Ivan Yates, who said Mr Tubridy had an agreed contract with RTÉ before negotiations for his return had ended. 

“Ryan Tubridy had a contract with RTÉ that ran from 2020 to 2025 - a radio and TV contract” he told The Anton Savage Show. 

“He walked away from the Late Late Show, which is fair enough, but he still had a contract. 

“To take one sentence out of statement issued [by Mr Tubridy] during the week might be legally fragile. 

“I think this is probably going to head to the Four Courts now... Ryan was in a very strong position to say the grounds on which ultimately sacked and dismissed were fairly insubstantial.” 

Grant Thornton report

Mr Tubridy recently welcomed the Grant Thornton report, saying he “welcomed the finding’s that [he] did not claim €120,000 in fees which was due to [him] in 2020”. 

RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst recently told Newstalk negotiations with Mr Tubridy did not just end over the statement he made regarding the Grant Thornton report. 

“Everyone involved needs to take the right amount of of blame for their own actions,” he said. 

Ryan Tubridy with his agent Noel Kelly leaving Leinster House, Dublin, 11-07-2023. Image: PA Images / Alamy

Mr Yates said the Grant Thornton report “put the matter black and white” that “Ryan did nothing wrong”. 

“All he said in his statement was that the findings were correct,” he said. 

“For me, the matter is very simple - RTÉ have dismissed, they’ve ripped his contract, what are his rights? 

“The law is simple – I can sack you, but I have to pay your salary.”

The real 'major issue'

Many people are ignoring the “major issue” in RTÉ, according to Mr Yates. 

“I believe RTÉ is technically insolvent,” he said. “The borrowings are quite close to the ceiling of €100 million. 

“Have you heard one proposal from Kevin Bakhurst or the board or anyone to say, ‘This is how we're going to save’?” 

Mr Yates said RTÉ has “absolutely refused to say how they’re going to restructure themselves in a new landscape” of increased digital media. 

“Ryan Tubridy has been the story, but the elephant in the room is that [RTÉ’s] finances are just not sustainable,” he said. 

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