The Director General of RTE Dee Forbes has dramatically resigned from her post.
Ms Forbes was due to retire from her post in the coming weeks.
But the scandal surrounding secret payments to Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy has resulted in Ms Forbes tendering her resignation.
In a statement this morning, Ms Forbes said she has “engaged with and consistently co-operated with the processes directed towards answering questions surrounding payments to Ryan Tubridy”.
“As Director General, I am the person ultimately accountable for what happens within the organisation and I take that responsibility seriously. I am tendering my resignation to RTÉ with immediate effect.”
Ms Fobres said that she is “deeply sorry for what has happened and my part in this episode and for that I apologise unreservedly to everyone”.
She said that she cares “very deeply” about RTÉ, as well as “the people who work for it, the public it serves, its mission, values, its unique position as a public service broadcaster and its reputation”.
“I will continue to do so as RTÉ moves forward under the new Director General.”
RTÉ is to appear before two Oireachtas committees this week to discuss the controversy over undisclosed payments to RTÉ’s top earner Ryan Tubridy.
The broadcaster has been invited to appear before the Oireachtas Media Committee on Wednesday followed by the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday.
On Saturday, Minister for Media Catherine Martin announced an independent external review of corporate governance at the station.
Minister Martin said that what had transpired was “shocking” and had done untold damage to RTÉ’s reputation.
