RTÉ's Chief Financial Officer Richard Collins has told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that he first heard in early March that there was an issue regarding two €75,000 payments to Ryan Tubridy's agent Noel Kelly.
He said that on 7 March, Deloitte flagged the issue, prompting him to ask the then-Director General Dee Forbes what the payments were for.
She said that they "were consultancy invoices relating to services provided during Covid-19," Mr Collins told the PAC, adding that "Noel Kelly had provided services".
"The services were in relation to how RTÉ restructured its operations," he said.
Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster asked in what capacity Mr Kelly was advising RTÉ.
"In terms of how we dealt with sponsors. To be honest, I got a high level response from the Director General. Deloitte's weren't happy with the response I was given," Mr Collins replied.
"So you thought that was worth €150,000?" Ms Munster asked.
"I didn't think it was worth €150,000 at the time", he replied.
"I can't remember exactly how she explained it."
Ms Munster said that Mr Collins "knew nothing" about the fact that they were top-up payments and just "gave the nod".
"I never gave the nod for these," he replied.
"You didn't ask questions, as finance officer, you didn't ask questions," Deputy Munster said.
"It was to do with how RTÉ was structured," he said.
"It was advice that the DG received on how RTÉ restructured itself and presented itself during Covid".
"Well, I took her explanation", he said.
"She [Dee Forbes] gave what appeared to be a plausible explanation".
Chairman of the PAC Brian Stanley asked did "alarm bells" not go off he heard "Noel Kelly" and "consultancy".
"I knew the DG had a close relationship with Noel Kelly," Mr Collins replied.
"Your explanation here is ridiculous," Mr Stanley said.
"My own opinion is maybe the taxpayer was defrauded," Chief Financial Officer Richard Collins told Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon.
Mr Collins noted that RTÉ had received legal advice that no fraud was committed.
Asked what other contractors RTÉ paid for advice during Covid, Mr Collins said that "off the top of my head, I'm not aware of any other contractors who were paid for advice".
"So this is a once off?" Mr Dillon asked.
"Well it looks like it, yes," Mr Collins replied.
Read more:
Existence of barter account 'staggering' - ex-RTÉ chair
RTÉ paid €275,000 from barter account to send clients to major sports events
Calls for Tubridy, Forbes and Kelly to appear at committee
