RTÉ has confirmed that former presenter Ryan Tubridy has repaid the organisation a sum of €150,000 he received as part of a controversial payment deal made in 2020.
Mr Tubridy left RTÉ following weeks of controversy relating to the organisation publicly under-reporting payments to him.
Mr Tubridy was also the long-time host of RTÉ’s The Late Late Show.
In a statement, RTÉ said it received the payment via Mr Tubridy's solicitor.
"RTÉ welcomes the payment and would like to thank Ryan Tubridy for making it," it said.
In a statement issued on behalf of Mr Tubridy, he said: "Earlier today I made a payment of €150,000 to RTE.
"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."
The chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Media Alan Kelly has said that Mr Tubridy's repayment "does not bring an end to the issues in RTÉ".
The Labour Party TD welcomed Mr Tubridy's decision to "finally repay" the €150,000, but said issues remain regarding RTÉ's "governance" and "transparency".
Mr Kelly added: "We need to ensure that in the future our broadcaster is fit for purpose."
Social Democrats TD and member of the Public Accounts Committee Aidan Farrelly said there are questions over what RTÉ intends to do with the money.
He told RTÉ's Drivetime that the timing of the repayment must also be questioned and whether it is part of a rehabilitation process for Mr Turbridy to return to RTÉ.
"There are certainly many questions to come following it," he added.
