RTÉ's Marty Morrissey apologises over five-year 'ad hoc' car arrangement
Moya Nolan Morrissey Marty Picture: File
RTÉ GAA broadcaster Marty Morrissey has confirmed he is the staff member who had the use of a free car for more than five years in a ‘ad-hoc’ arrangement.
Mr Morrissey released a statement this afternoon saying that he returned the vehicle on June 23. The issue was first highlighted at the Oireachtas Media Committee on Wednesday.
Mr Morrissey, the GAA correspondent for RTÉ News, said he had been offered the car by Renault in 2017 after undertaking a commercial appearance for which he was not paid. He said he has continued this “informal arrangement” for the last number of years and has MCed “about 12” events for the car manufacturer.
However, he said he has “never been appointed brand ambassador for Renault”.
The presenter said he was making the statement in the “interests of openness and transparency”. He said “in light of recent events one potential issue did come into focus”.
“In 2017 I was asked to MC a series of functions in Renault garages across the country," he said.
"This involved me interviewing several high-profile GAA personalities. As was required of me, I sought RTÉ permission at the time to do this. The permission was granted.
Mr Morrissey says he did not seek a fee for the engagement.
"I saw it as GAA-related, interacting with former players who I knew well. Many of the GAA-related engagements I do, I do at no cost
""I ended up MC-ing about 12 such events.”
Mr Morrissey said that since the controversy surrounding payments at RTÉ had come to light, he had “reflected on this matter” and “concluded it had been an error of judgement on my part” to accept the use of the car.
He said he returned the car on June 23, the day after RTÉ first announced that Ryan Tubridy’s pay was above that which had been publicly declared.
However, interim Director General of RTÉ Adrian Lynch told the Oireachtas Media Committee on Wednesday that the car had only been returned on Tuesday.
“Like many RTÉ staff and contractors, I was this week asked to supply RTÉ with information about any commercial engagements, gifts and potential conflicts of interest. I did this and made full disclosure of this matter to RTÉ.”
He said that he had never been appointed by Renault and there was no “expectation or requirement that I publicly endorse or promote Renault on air, on social media or otherwise while I had the use of a car. As far as I was concerned, my use of the car was always a very ad-hoc arrangement which did not affect my work with RTÉ.”
He also said he has no car allowance from RTÉ and has apologised to the broadcaster for any “embarrassment or difficulty” that he has caused.
“I also apologise to any of our viewers and listeners who may feel let down by my actions. It was never my intention to let anyone down, least of all myself.”
A spokesperson for RTÉ told the : “This matter is being addressed with Marty Morrissey by RTÉ management.
“Marty Morrissey will be commentating on the All-Ireland Senior Men’s Hurling Semi-Final on Saturday and the All-Ireland Senior Camogie quarter-final on Sunday on RTÉ2 as scheduled.”
In addition, RTÉ’s Interim Deputy Director General, Adrian Lynch said that RTÉ will develop a “comprehensive register of interests of RTÉ staff and contractors”.