Chief financial officer Richard Collins resigns from RTÉ

It is unclear whether or not Mr Collins will receive a severance payment following his resignation. File picture

RTÉ’s chief financial officer Richard Collins has resigned from his position.

The news was delivered to RTÉ staff at a meeting with director general Kevin Bakhurst just after 12.30pm today.

“The director general confirmed that Richard Collins has vacated his role,” a source told the Irish Examiner.

"Richard Collins has tendered his resignation as CFO of RTÉ. Richard will work on a handover and RTÉ is in the process of identifying a replacement CFO,” a spokesperson for the broadcaster said.

“Richard will assist in any ongoing processes to the extent that this may be required. We wish to thank Richard for his hard work and contribution to RTÉ over the past three years and to wish him every success in the future."

It is unclear whether or not Mr Collins will receive a severance payment following his resignation.

When asked by the Irish Examiner, RTÉ declined to clarify the status of any potential exit package.

A spokesperson did confirm that Mr Collins would not be attending tomorrow's meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, at which RTÉ executives are to face questioning. 

Mr Collins was present during Oireachtas committee hearings earlier this summer after details of hidden payments to former RTÉ broadcaster Ryan Tubridy came to light.

At one of those meetings, Mr Collins was asked what his salary was and replied that he didn’t know. He then confirmed that he believed he was paid in the region of €200,000 together with a €25,000 car allowance.

Mr Collins was also questioned about what he knew about Ryan Tubridy's salary and allowance arrangements. It was initially claimed that he had no knowledge of the deal, having not been briefed by his predecessor Breda O’Keeffe in 2020 when he took over the role of CFO.

Ms O’Keeffe subsequently claimed that Mr Collins had been fully briefed regarding the arrangement.

While Mr Collins was stood down from his role as CFO with the elevation of Mr Bakhurst to director general, he remained employed with RTÉ.