‘It leaves a lot of unanswered questions and unfinished business’ – Dee Forbes will never face grilling on RTÉ crisis

Solicitors for Ms Forbes informed TDs that she is “under active medical care” and “not fit or able” to co-operate in any way with the Oireachtas Media Committee’s inquiries into the controversies.

Ms Forbes has repeatedly cited ill health as her reason for being unable to attend hearings into the controversy surrounding undisclosed payments to former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy as well as a raft of other controversies during her tenure.

Media Committee chair Niamh Smyth has admitted it was “the end of the options for us to hear from her”.

“It’s disappointing since we did offer a number of options to her and it leaves a lot of unanswered questions and unfinished business,” the Fianna Fáil TD said. Two expert groups on culture and governance are due to report to Media Minister Catherine Martin this month. “We still have to hear from the expert groups,” Ms Smyth said. “I am keen to hear from the two expert groups, and once we have done that piece we’ll draw up our own report with recommendations.

“I would say it is the end of the options for us to hear from her because compellability is not an option for the committee because she is genuinely sick.”

Ms Forbes resigned last summer – just days before her term was due to end – after revelations about the payments to Mr Tubridy rocked the broadcaster and precipitated a series of further crises around spending at RTÉ.

Last month, the Oireachtas Media Committee wrote to Ms Forbes offering her the opportunity to submit written evidence and said it was open to facilitating ways to assist her to engage with its inquiries.

However, responding on Ms Forbes’s behalf, solicitors Byrne Wallace stated in a letter to the ­committee yesterday: “We confirm that on foot of your letter we have sought instructions from our client and we are instructed that our client is not fit or able to undertake or be involved in any processes.

“We are instructed that our client is unfit to be involved in any process even with the offer of video links/breaks/written evidence etc and that our client remains under active medical care.

“We previously provided you with information confirming our client’s medical position.

“Further medical information, to confirm our client’s medical position that she is unfit to participate in any processes at this time can be provided with the requirement that it is kept confidential.

“If you require sight of further medical information on a strictly confidential basis, please let us know.”

Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon, a committee member, said Ms Forbes’s correspondence was “another kick in the teeth for our committee to fully understand Ms Forbes’s actions and more importantly, for her to get the opportunity to set the record straight”.

He added: “Every opportunity has been afforded to the former DG to engage with our ­committee and it’s unfortunate her medical condition hasn’t improved to participate in any type process and her only response to enquiries is via her legal representatives.”

In her only public comment to date, Ms Forbes said in her resignation statement last June 26: “I regret very much the upset and adverse publicity suffered by RTÉ, its staff and the unease created among the public in recent days.”

She said she did not at any stage act contrary to any advice and criticised the then RTÉ board’s approach to her since the controversy unfolded.

“All of this has had a very serious and ongoing impact on my health and wellbeing,” she added.