Clare RTÉ presenter and Gaelic games commentator Marty Morrissey has issued a statement amid revelations of an ad-hoc arrangement with Renault in which he had the use of a car for number of years.
The broadcaster says he returned the vehicle voluntarily on June 23rd, just one day after news of RTÉ’s controversial payments to Ryan Tubridy broke.
The arrangement came to light after RTÉ interim Director General Adrian Lynch confirmed to Senator Timmy Dooley at the Oireachtas Media Committee on Wednesday that a staff member had a loan of a car from Renault for a period of five years.
In a statement released by Morrissey, the Quilty native says he was asked by Renault to MC a series of functions in 2017 and did not seek a fee for the engagement.
He claims as a result of this, he was offered the use of the car as a token of appreciation and the situation “carried over informally over a number of years”, with Morrissey reportedly MC-ing about 12 events for the car manufacturer.
The presenter alleges he was not a brand ambassador and was not required to endorse or promote Renault while he had use of the car.
Morrissey says he decided to return the car on Friday the 23rd of June, one day after the Ryan Tubridy scandal broke, despite Adrian Lynch claiming on Wednesday that the vehicle was returned on Tuesday the 4th of July.
The popular GAA commentator asserts that he disclosed the arrangement with RTÉ earlier this week after he, along with many other staff and contractors, was asked to supply the broadcaster with information about commercial engagements, gifts and potential conflicts of interest.
Morrissey has described the arrangement as an “error of judgement” and has assured RTÉ that he is “ready to assist, and rectify, any issues which may arise from this matter”.
