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RTÉ HAS FACED a gruelling 24 hours in the spotlight after revelations emerged on Thursday that it has under-reported exactly how much it has paid Ryan Tubridy over the past number of years.
Details of additional payments to Tubridy first emerged yesterday, and have prompted a deluge of statements from the broadcaster, the presenter himself and Government and opposition politicians – as well as anger from the public and RTÉ staff.
It has posed major questions for the future funding of the broadcaster as well as Tubridy himself. Here’s what we know so far – and what exactly those questions are.
Secret payments totalling €345,000 to Ryan Tubridy between 2017 and March of this year have gone unreported by RTÉ.
The broadcaster publishes the annual salaries of its top earners every year (though RTÉ only discloses earnings from two years previously – for example, the most recent release of figures in March of this year related to salaries from 2021).
Those figures consistently show that Tubridy is RTÉ’s top earner. According to the latest release in March, the former Late Late host was officially paid €440,000 in 2021.
But now it’s emerged that this isn’t the full story.
A statement released by RTÉ yesterday revealed that in 2020 and 2021, Tubridy was paid an additional income of €75,000 per year.
This was originally intended to come from a commercial partner – understood to be Renault – in exchange for a number of personal appearances.
RTÉ issued a credit note to Renault, which reduced the cost of a sponsorship arrangement it already had with the broadcaster.
The additional payment was guaranteed and underwritten by RTÉ. When Renault decided not to renew the agreement after 2020, RTÉ made payments to Tubridy’s agent, on the broadcaster’s behalf.
So as well as the payment from Renault in 2020, Tubridy also received €150,000 from RTÉ in the form of two payments of €75,000 each for 2021 and 2022.
These payments were made via what’s known as a barter account, which are used by companies to exchange goods or services for other goods or services (for example, a company selling mineral water might supply water to a show in exchange for free advertising during an ad break).
The use of barter accounts is an industry standard but is done through an intermediary, so doesn’t come for free – in this case, RTÉ spent an additional €80,000 in fees to the intermediary, on top of the €150,000 that was paid to Tubridy.
On top of that, RTÉ said that it had also understated Tubridy’s actual earnings from 2017 to 2019 and for the first three months of 2023, to the tune of almost €140,000.
Tubridy’s annual earnings published by RTÉ between the years 2017 and 2022 ranged from €440,000 to €491,667, but actually ranged from €511,667 to €545,000.
So while the broadcaster initially claimed in its public releases before yesterday that Tubridy earned around €2.8 million between 2017 and 2022, the correct figure was north of €3 million.
In late March (shortly after Tubridy announced he was stepping down as host of the Late Late Show), internal auditors examining RTÉ’s accounts for 2022 discovered an issue around what the broadcaster has described as “transparency of certain payments”.
The RTÉ Board was informed and its Audit and Risk Committee then commissioned external auditors Grant Thornton to carry out an independent review.
Grant Thornton’s findings were presented back to the committee last Friday before a wider board meeting was held on Monday to discuss the matter.
Yesterday, there were media reports about a potential issue relating to payments at RTÉ, but it was unclear specifically what the problem was.
The Journal and other outlets had contacted the broadcaster asking about the matter earlier in the week, but received no response.
Media Minister Catherine Martin, whose brief deals with RTÉ, was also asked by reporters yesterday whether she was aware of an issue. She said that she was aware of the issue but didn’t specify what it was either.
It has been reported that some RTÉ staff were given full details about the matter at 2.30pm on Thursday afternoon, just half an hour before the broadcaster issued a lengthy statement which confirmed details about the payments to Tubridy.
Chair of the RTÉ Board Siún Ní Raghallaigh, who was quoted in that RTÉ statement, apologised and expressed “profound regret” about the controversy on behalf of the board.
“We are well aware that this is a serious breach of trust with the public. On behalf of the Board, I wish to apologise for what has occurred. It is clear that RTÉ has fallen short of the high standards that it sets for itself and are expected of it,” her statement said.
She also said that the board “acted expeditiously to establish the facts” once the issue came to light, and expressed confidence that safeguards had been put in place to ensure a similar issue would never happen again.
Shortly afterwards, Tubridy issued a statement of his own suggesting he was unaware of the revelations. Unapologetic, he sought to distance himself from the controversy and to lay blame on RTÉ instead.
“Like many people, I’m surprised by the announcements made in RTÉ’s statement today regarding the errors in the reporting of its accounts,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that these errors are in relation to how RTÉ have reported payments made to me but I just want to be clear: this is a matter for RTÉ and I have no involvement in RTÉ’s internal accounting treatment or RTÉ’s public declarations in connection with such payments.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed to be at the centre of this story but unfortunately, I can’t shed any light on why RTÉ treated these payments in the way that they did nor can I answer for their mistakes in this regard.”
In a second statement this afternoon, Tubridy did apologise and said he should have asked questions about his arrangements, though he still sought to blame RTÉ.
“While I have no responsibility for the corporate governance in RTE or how or what they publish in their accounts, when my earnings were published I should have asked questions at the time and sought answers as to the circumstances which resulted in incorrect figures being published,” he said.
“I didn’t and bear responsibility for my failure to do so. For this, I apologise unreservedly.”
He also addressed speculation that his announcement on 16 March that he was stepping down from the Late Late Show coincided that internal RTÉ auditors unearthed the discrepancy in the broadcaster’s accounts, saying the two are unrelated.
Tubriday’s agent NK Management – which represents a number of other top RTÉ stars – took the same tack in a statement of its own.
“These are matters for which RTÉ has sole responsibility and accountability,” the company said.
“There is no issue whatsoever in relation to the payments being properly and lawfully due and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Ryan Tubridy or NK Management.”
Nevertheless, Tubridy was pulled from his 9am show on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning and replaced by Oliver Callan. He will remain off the airwaves next week.
Figures in RTÉ would have signed off on the arrangement and made a decision to underwrite the €75,000 fee, and people are demanding answers from the top of the organisation.
In a significant development today, the broadcaster confirmed that its Director General Dee Forbes was suspended from her employment on Wednesday, a day before the controversy broke.
Forbes was due to step down from her position on 10 July to be replaced by new Director General Kevin Bakhurst, but in a statement on Friday morning the RTÉ board confirmed she had been suspended.
The reasons for her suspension were not disclosed by RTÉ, which also didn’t say how long her suspension will last. There is currently no indication that Forbes knew about or was responsible for the payments to Tubridy.
In a statement this evening, she said she had been “fully engaged with the board since the matter arose” and during the audit of accounts.
“Yesterday was an extremely difficult day for all of us who care so deeply about the organisation and the impact of these issues is a matter of profound regret,” she said.
In addition, the broadcaster has been proactive in attempting to find out if other presenters have similar arrangements in place.
It has carried out an internal review into the pay of other top 10 earners at the station, which RTÉ says has shown that “all remuneration figures” were correctly accounted for.
However, it has commissioned Grant Thornton to carry out an external audit of payments to those other top 10 earners as well so that the results of its own internal audit can be independently verified.
In the day since the story broke, there have been various Government statements and comments about the controversy.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said today that the revelations represented a breach of trust, and he criticised the public broadcaster.
“There’s huge shock and surprise in terms of the manner of this. I think we need more clarification,” he said.
Minister for Arts and Media Catherine Martin has also been in touch with senior RTÉ officials, and is set to meet them in her Department tomorrow.
Catherine Martin said in a statement last night that she was “extremely concerned” at the details which had emerged. She confirmed that she had spoken to RTÉ board chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh about the matter.
“The public rightly expect much higher standards of transparency and accountability from Ireland’s public service broadcaster,” she said.
“It will be equally important for the board to demonstrate that it is putting in place appropriate structures and processes to prevent a recurrence of a matter of this nature.”
In contrast to Martin’s formal statement, other politicians were more gung ho in taking aim at RTÉ and demanding accountability.
“Today’s bombshell revelations involve a breach of trust from an organisation that has repeatedly put on the poor mouth about its dire financial situation when seeking an increase in the television licence fee,” Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said.
Fianna Fáil Senator and member of the Oireachtas Media Committee, Malcolm Byrne, also raised the issue of RTÉ’s requests for funding.
“This will not help RTÉ’s case for additional public funding. It does represent a test for the new Chair and Chief Executive of RTÉ to set out their values and vision in response to this scandal,” he said.
Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley, who chairs the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, told The Journal that he has written to his fellow committee members saying he was requesting an immediate explanation from RTÉ.
He said RTÉ needs to explain “why this happened, who is responsible and explain what is being done to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again”.
It’s expected that representatives of the broadcaster will appear before the Public Accounts Committee next week to answer questions about the issue.
But politicians aren’t the only ones asking questions.
Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Seamus Dooley, said there were questions around who signed off on the payments to Tubridy and whether the executive board had any role in doing so.
“I have never heard of a barter account, but I don’t like the smell of it,” he said.
Chair of the RTÉ Trade Union Group, Stuart Masterson, likewise described the controversy as “a significant breach of trust”.
“RTÉ have done immense damage to the relationship with staff,” he said. “This happened at a time when staff were engaged in cost-cutting negotiations with management.”
Although RTÉ’s initial statement was wide-ranging in its disclosures about the additional payments to Tubridy and the actions that have been taken since, this is only the start of the controversy.
The revelations and Tubridy’s subsequent attempts to lay the blame at the foot of his employer have created a slew of questions that fall into three broad categories: what Tubridy knew; how RTÉ explains itself; and the relationship between RTÉ and its staff.
Tubridy has painted himself into a corner with his statements and previous claims he’s made about his income.
He said in August 2020 that his salary had been reduced – a month after he received the first €75,000 payment under the arrangement. Why did he claim this when that evidently wasn’t the case?
He said today that “it is simply not true” that he didn’t take a pay cut and that his pay has been cut by 40% between 2012 and today. But does this include commercial arrangements like the one underwritten by RTÉ?
More broadly, did Tubridy know that the figures RTÉ published each year from 2017 to 2022 weren’t accurate? And if he did, why did he allow them to remain that way?
He said in his second statement that he “should have asked questions” at the time, but not addressed why he didn’t do so.
Is it credible that he wasn’t aware of the commercial arrangement until yesterday – especially if it involved ‘personal appearances’ by him? Did he not notice additional income in his bank account?
His second statement today confirmed that he was aware of the arrangement. So why did he claim to be “surprised” by RTÉ’s announcement after the story broke?
People will also be wondering whether Tubridy can survive the controversy and when he will return to the airwaves – he has confirmed that he will continue to be absent from his 9am radio show next week, having stepped back from his duties this morning.
The biggest questions, however, will be asked of RTÉ, particularly around who knew what and when.
Answers will likely come in the coming days and weeks, particularly if the Public Accounts Committee hauls RTÉ representatives before politicians next week.
But some of the broadcaster’s attempts to be transparent have already fallen short and begged further questions.
RTÉ has not yet said how or why Tubridy’s salary was under-reported from 2017 to 2019 and for the first three months of this year. Nor is it clear why it opted to guarantee the €75,000 payments from Renault, or why this arrangement was set up in the first place.
Meanwhile, there are issues around the barter account which was used to pay Tubridy under that commercial arrangement.
RTÉ’s former commercial director Willie O’Reilly, who is familiar with the use of barter accounts, told the broadcaster’s News at One programme that he “nearly fell over” when he learned about how the barter accounts had been used in this instance.
“When I saw the statement from RTÉ, it said that at some stage that there was very loose controls, and that now they had been brought in house,” he said.
This begs more questions: Why were they not overseen more rigidly until now, and are there any other issues with these accounts?
For the broadcaster, the additional payments to Tubridy came at a time when RTÉ committed to reducing the fees it would pay to its top presenters.
Another immediate question is whether any other presenters had their salaries understated or had deals in place that were similar to Tubridy’s.
If RTÉ’s internal audit is to be believed, then some of its other ‘top 10′ earners are not affected – but how many of its high earners have actually been audited?
The ‘top 10′ list changes year to year, and there are plenty of high earners in the company outside the 10 highest-paid presenters.
Most crucially, there are big existential questions for the broadcaster.
The episode has created a trust issue for RTÉ, both from the public and among its staff, who are said to be furious at the revelations.
It will be incredibly difficult to justify calls for additional funding, whether from central Government or through an increase in the licence fee, without provoking even more anger from the public.
Sinn Féin’s Brian Stanley said the revelation of the secret payments meant any increase in the licence fee would be “off the radar” – and it would be hard to find a political figure who disagrees with him.
But RTÉ has been crying out for more funding for years, telling politicians in 2021 that it faced an “existential” financial crisis, which has come in part due to a fall in advertising revenues and households moving away from TV consumption.
Now the broadcaster is enveloped in an entirely different crisis, this time of its own making. There is a long road ahead, and many questions to answer, before it can navigate its way out of these latest problems.
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If these people are flying from all over the world to vote then the rest of us have no excuse but to make an effort.
I just wish it wasn’t so geared towards Facebook and self-congratulation, it sticks in my craw
It feels like community to me =)
It feels like posturing to me. Still hope it passes but it’s being made into another round of that vulgar ice bucket challenge
Spot on, Stephen. Facebook is unbearable. ‘Look at me! Look at how much of an equalist I am!’ Just vote whatever we you’re going to vote and get on with it.
Oh such negative nellies you lot. I like seeing my friends campaigning and cheering for a yes. Warms the cockles ^_^
Haha, apologies Joanna. I did vote yes and I’m proud I did. To be honest I think I’m just fed up listening to it at this stage!
I just wish people would vote for it without drawing attention to the fact that they’re doing so. Too much brouhaha, but I guess that’s the world we live in
It might be a small change in the constitution but it makes a huge deal to a lot of people. Hence the brouhaha.
Brouhaha is a great word isn’t it? I never thought I’d get the chance to use it
Fantastic word. It’s up there with hullabaloo.
People going to that much effort to stand up for what they believe in. It’s inspiring.
Yeah Conor and they mean much the same thing I think. We need to use these words more
I find it inspirational and hope it inspires some shilly shalliers into action.
It is inspiring to see all these people taking the time out to vote for something they believe in,regardless of how they vote,. It gives me a glimmer of hope for this country’s future to think that people who no longer reside here still put the time,effort and money into the shaping of the future of this country. Well done to all of you . You are a credit to your country.
Ha, people on Facebook complaining that Facebook is doing what it always does.
If these people have left the country for 18 months or more, then they are engaging in electoral fraud and should be prosecuted.
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/act/pub/0019/sec0005.html
People sharing the fact they’re voting online can only be a good thing. Especially young people doing it because it’ll in turn yet more young people interested in referenda or elections. The younger generation look to social media more than regular media these days so seeing friends & family vote will make them think twice about letting their constitutional right to vote go to waste. If you find it so annoying then just stay of Facebook for a day, the world won’t end if you do.
#hometovote = #irishmammyheaven. Lol All the kids home and it’s not even Christmas :)
i decided to abstain
I decided to abstain, i don’t have a dog in this fight
Why are you telling us? You don’t matter at all.
The mere fact that I was born, that I exist, regardless of my mood, my performance level, my looks that day. The mere fact that I am here is a vote of confidence from nature that I am indispensable, absolutely necessary, irreplaceable. No one can replace me. I matter. I truly matter.
Sensible, Jack. I abstained too, didn’t want to vote no but couldn’t bring myself to climb aboard the massive bandwagon, this endless luvvie fest has turned me from a yes voter to an abstainer
Jack, ever think that your dog in this fight might still be in the closet?
@Stephen, it’s like you just spoke my mind
Yeah Stephen because love has no place in a marriage referendum…moron
@Dave that would be animal cruelty, I would never be cruel to an animal
Yeah good one Dave. Me MUST be a secret gay. Wouldn’t that be awful?
I’m happy with my decision Dave. It’ll pass without me. I’m just stunned into non-compliance, maybe I’ve just read the journal too much the last few days
Oh and Anthony, sorry to offend but you have been central to my decision not to vote. Aggressive, belligerent rhetoric on every single SSM article, never taking a morning off. We are in a democracy and can make up our minds without being browbeaten
Wow Stephen you rebel. Way to show everyone =P
Stephen, what a shame you’re abstaining because of you don’t want to join what you think is a bandwagon. I’d love to be able to exercise my right to vote but I can’t. Yes, some yes campaigners a bit annoying but many of the no campaigners are a lot worse. Obviously we are lucky to be from a free country so you’ve every right to abstain. Pity though.
I never said he was a secret gay. Never even implied it. Just thatvsoneone he knows night be.
@Jack.Do you realise that people died so you have the right to vote and shape the future of your country. That they are people still in the world who are not allowed to vote and have a say in their country’s future. If you don’t vote then you lose the right to have a say .
Shilly shalliers! Up there with brouhaha and hullabaloo!
@anthony lang – contra some of the commenters here, you’re one of the reasons I enjoy the Journal’s comment section. Here’s hoping for a yes victory!
@Mary, I didn’t vote and I lost nothing! I still have all the rights I had yesterday apparently
I Love Ireland, Fantastic people. Let’s make everybody equal. How could you vote No to that.
Mike, a bit factually incorrect, its not about making everybody equal.
Or is it about keeping people unequal?
Really? What does marriage equality mean?
Voter fraud tends to make people emotional.
Joe, do explain, Irish citizens, legally allowed and eligible to vote doing so
Back in my day a gay marriage was a happy marriage!
Mike it doesn’t mean everbody is equal.
Let’s stick with the question being asked David. Diverting the question is just trying to confuse people.
Mike no its you thats confused, its not about making everybody equal, that misleading.
2 penises and 2 vaginas are equal!
Again!!! Getting back to the Question on Marriage Equality………..Let’s make everyone equal. No point trying to confuse people David. It’s getting really silly now.
Wayne you’re supposed to be a resident here in the run up to polling day. This home to vote nonsense is voter fraud and could lead to a challenge.
If the majority of #hometovoters were No, you’d be standing at the port, waving a papal flag and offering lifts to mass
And you’d be complaining about voter fraud.
Wayne,
Irish emigrants who have not resided in the state for 18 months or longer are not allowed vote. Any of these emigrants who have been away for that long and who vote today are engaging in electoral fraud.
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/act/pub/0019/sec0005.html
Quick to the Airport to check all their visas and have them deported! If people kept their names on the register good for them. They can’t all be Yes voters… don’t forget your “Silent Nos”. You wouldn’t want your Stealth Nonjas turned away by the invigilators!
There will be a legal challenge over this. These people were stupid enough to advertise online publicly that they are engaging in voter fraud. Very easy to prove via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc that these people were abroad for over 18 months, and thus, not entitled to vote.
This is large scale voter fraud that is being celebrated by the media. A dark day for Irish democracy.
I see the No side are conceding defeat and getting the excuses in early.
Not all of us! I’m studying in England, but still perfectly entitled to vote in Ireland.
James if you have any evidence of voter fraud including evidence that any of these people have been outside of the country for a period greater than 18 months I urge you to contact your local Garda station.Get back to us and let us know how it works out for you.
James, I have not doubt but that all returning emigrants are fully legally compliant in their voting!
“What does marriage equality mean?”
That’s a good question. What does “marriage equality” mean? It’s just two words shoved together that sound good. Does it mean everyone can now get married? No. Does it mean equal marriage rights for everyone? No.
I voted Yes to same-sex marriage, but “marriage equality” means nothing
Poor James. A little sulk does no harm but don’t let it get in on you.
Well done to our emigrants. It’s like the cavalry coming over the hill with the bugles sounding.
Nice timing!
No Joe. Disgusting homophobes make people emotional.
Anthony are you not supposed to be a man of the law? Surely you can see how this violates electoral laws? Or are your homosexual tendencies clouding your judgment that much?
Ha ha Joe. Bitter lemon. Bitter.
Joe you have absolutely no proof of illegal acts and until you do you can pipe down about it
Isn’t t it amassing how the no side are now looking for a legal challenge because of Irish citizens coming home to vote. And yet they are so quite about any legal challenge to the no sides campaign that has been basses on lies, a deliberate attempt to miss lead the public. Win loose or draw I sincerely hope there methods are investigated and outlawed to insure that now further referendum is debated based on hate.
I didn’t engage in any type of fraud thank you. I’m resident in Ireland and simply cut a holiday short to come #hometovote. No one said all these people are no longer resident!
We have evidence that well over 100 people(and counting) have been out of the state for 18 months and who came home to engage in voter fraud. This has been passed on to the authorities and more names will be also passed on in due course. Fraud is fraud is fraud. It is a criminal act to engage in voter fraud and these lawbreakers should not be celebrated by the media.
(4) For the purposes of this section—
(a) a person shall be deemed not to have given up ordinary residence if he intends to resume residence within eighteen months after giving it up,
(b) a written statement by a person that he intends to resume residence within eighteen months after giving it up shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be conclusive evidence of that fact.
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/act/pub/0019/sec0005.html
The media should not be cheerleading fraud and corruption. Next week they will be back moaning about the level of fraud and corruption in Irish politics. Completely ignorant in their astounding hypocrisy.
Daisy, can you even consider the problems this will cause when YES is passed? It’s the biggest most legit weapon handed to NO side. In a referendum you are not entitled to vote if you did not reside in the country when the electoral register came into force Miss SF above states she left January, register came into force Feb 15th… She’s been on US news, Irish news and with all the other genuine people who came to vote either way they are doing a disservice to their desired side! To the NO side this will be a WDM with plenty of evidence to prove what would be classed as fraudulent voting! Not to mention Miss SF has opened herself up to criminal prosecution. It’s not the job of border patrol to check visas on Irish citizens passports!
Need to check your facts there Roisín, the whole student clause applies only to the Island of Ireland it doesn’t apply to overseas. However if you were in Ireland on September 1st 2014 and planning to return full-time to Ireland within 18 months you are entitled to vote.
But realistically these votes shouldn’t count because of rules and I’m sure if it came to light the IONA flew people in in their masses to vote NO the Yes side would be of a different opinion. The idiot who started #hometovote could have mucked up the entire referendum!
Glad to have a couple of cynics around on the Journal, it wouldn’t be an article about Ireland otherwise!
I’m stuck in the office here in Toronto, and I’m gutted that I can’t get #hometovote. Fair play to all of these people, regardless of whether they vote Yes or No. There won’t be the same kind of movement for a general election, and why? Because elections are about a range of issues and it’s a lot harder to engage an electorate. This is a very simple question that people are being asked, and just like the Scottish referendum, that engages people in a way that you might not expect.
Be cynical all you want, I don’t care. I’m proud of everyone voting today and I hope I wake up tomorrow to a resounding YES!
Also a GE is trickier as there’s no right answer.
I am impressed and elated that so many of our emigrants have come home to vote. They have paid to travel home and, in some cases, at huge expense. They have stood up to the plate. Total respect.
Of course, there will be a few negative and bitter remarks from the NO side because they know that over 90% are returning to vote yes.
I totally support online remote voting for Irish emigrants.
But sadly, many people still wouldn’t give those same young people the opportunity to run for President if they so wished.
If these people have been abroad for 18 months or more than they are engaging in electoral fraud by returning to vote. Should such people be celebrated?
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/act/pub/0019/sec0005.html
A lot of the No side have been so negative, nasty and telling lies. I’m delighted to see the Yes side rising above it and being super positive. Let’s hope we’re all popping the bubbly tomorrow night for a resounding YES.
James, 100% of voters returning have been abroad less than 18 months. They are voting legally and compliantly.
Think if all of our emigrants who left within the last 5 years could vote!! Now that would be some result.
Online voting for Irish emigrants now.
Where are you getting your figures, Anthony?
Le Tigre. I met them all and they showed me proof of recent residency.
99.997% came back to vote yes. They told me so.
I like the NO side approach to evidence. You can say anything. Brilliant.
Le Tigre, thanks for your yes vote.
What was that meant to be?
There are illegal No posters outside my polling station. I have pictures in case any moron decides to challenge the inevitable result based on facebook statuses. #wecanallplaythatgame
Im not gay but voted yes and passed a thought for a gay friend of mine as I did so and felt quite emotional as I ticked the box knowing that I hopefully have contributed towards his happiness with his partner.
I’d say there’s thousands of us doing the same today. We get to give the people we love the right to be legally recognised in the constitution… or at the very least, not to be treated differently. It’s nice!
I hope you put an X in the box instead of ticking it…
It’s a pity they won’t come out, or come home to vote when there are other equally important things to vote on.
I fully expect to see all those faces on The Journal next year when to come home to vote in the General Election.
Wouldn’t go to Paddy’s to throw a few bob on it however.
Were they loud on the plane?
Look over there. Look over there. Something more important. Look over there.
My faith in this country of ours is being restored.
Please vote YES so we can show ourselves what a great country we could have.
I keep on crying lol
Drama queen
Love the one from Bangkok, few airport beers. How Typically Irish.
Shane….. they missed the connection flight…. read her timeline to see how the story pans our :)
Some of those returning to Ireland to vote are gay men and gay women who had to emigrate so as to avoid the stifling and oppressive climate of prejudice against gay people in Ireland. They had to emigrate from Ireland due to hostile prejudice against them just because and only because they happened to be gay.
This is what I have received on Tuesday from a gay man in his late thirties who left Ireland, has not come back to Ireland since, and who is now back to vote.
“Dear all,
I just wanted to impress on you how strongly I feel about the upcoming referendum on marriage equality. If this had been a thing when I was growing up I could have avoided a confused and distraught period of my life when I thought myself an abomination and doomed to hell.
I wondered if my life was worth living as a gay man.
Voting yes takes nothing away from straight people but gives an amazingly strong message of acceptance to gay people. Particularly to children and teenagers who are struggling with their identity.
Thanks x ”
Today, please thing about the real harm that a NO vote will do and of the real and immense good that a yes vote will do. Please.
We have a great opportunity today to do the right thing. It’s a privilege and a pleasure to vote.
Ok we get it, you can stop posting this now
First time I read that and it’s really moving. Hope I don’t cry when I vote YES #emotional
Get over yourself
Ah now Mark, dear.
Mark Nolan, experience the love.
Leave aside the negative vibes. Join in the joy. Be happy. Don’t worry.
Absolutely. When people were saying that marriage would be changed by a yes vote, I couldn’t for the life of me see why. Would I suddenly be less married? Would my marriage be worthless now? Would it harm me in any way to vote yes to give a section of society the same rights and responsibilities as the straight community? It was a very simple choice for me to vote yes.
Its making a mokery of marriage , two nancies pretending to be married.
Currently on a train heading #hometovote
I reckon they’ll be another big surge in voters between 7-9 when people arrive home for the weekend ect .
Jen, good on you!!!
Je Gordon, good on you!
John, I think that you may well be right. It seems that there a lot of people en route. It would be great to give an extra hours so as to enable those who are delayed the chance to vote.
New Ireland, a better Ireland, more inclusive and more decent.
Students especially.
In fairness the polls are open till ten so hopefully every one can get there.Party for a Yes victory around 4,30 tomorrow and up bright and early Monday morning to continue ‘the destruction of western civilisation’. ;-)
In fairness the polls are open till ten so hopefully every one can get there.Party for a Yes victory around 4,30 tomorrow and up bright and early Monday morning to continue ‘the destruction of western civilisation’ . ;-)
Guy coming from Barcelona, insert bad hair day too. Shocking ha ..but fair play to them all :)
How wonderfully apt.
Wow
Yes win by 62%
Brian, it’s looking like a minimum of 58% and it may actually reach a win of 62% as you predict.
Hopefully.
Brain, I think that your 62% is much closer than my guess of 58%.
Anthony. 4% amongst friends. Who’s to argue.
And now for my next trick.
They must really be exited about having a 21 year old president to have made the effort.
Home is where the heart is – vote yes if you have one.
I got home on Wednesday evening, which allowed me time to do some canvassing on the streets at lunchtime yesterday and door to door in the evening.
Arrived to work this morning in Vancouver very glassy eyed after reading this, fair play to all those that traveled home
It was so nice of them to let us know they were coming. Taking photos and all. Otherwise we just wouldn’t have known
Im sure a lot of it is #cominghomeforbankholweekend and just happen to be able to vote.
It’s not a bank holiday in the Republic of Ireland Ronan.
Where this referendum is actually happening.
It is however a bank holiday in the UK
(Where this referendum is not happening)
Yes but many in the UK would come home because of the BH over there
Is there a bank holiday in Bangkok too?
And Ethiopia
Joanna
I said many not all, go figure what was meant….
I think you meant to display your inner moron
Attention seekers
That’s it exactly
Id say some of them were coming home anyway today/this weekend. I am calling into the local polling station after work, how great am I?
Pot kettle black with moronic statements like that.
Just on the no.39 bus to Blanch!! #hometovote
Orlaith, major respect!
This whole thing is a farce. They have civil partnership s that’s more than enough # save the children of tomorrow
Save the children of tomorrow from having to vote Yes in the future you mean. Ireland has a habit of brushing issues under the carpet and leaving decisions to future generations, I hope i’m part of a generation that makes a difference now. I’ve had enough of the “goats and volcano’s” argument.
The Referendum is about same sex marriage, not civil partnership.
This is precisely why I’m voting yes, to save the children of tomorrow from having to go through what I went through.
Mark you need to learn how to # tag.
Can’t wait for a resounding yes so :)
Your all brainwashed this is the beginning of more dark times for our poor island as if we haven’t had enough. Shame on the lot of you
*you’re. Example: Mark, you’re an idiot.
I can tell just by your profile pic you are not in the know. I doubt you even know yourself. #crowdfollower # sheep
Maybe your brainwashed ? How is it the beginning of more dark times for Ireland?
I’m not wasting my time explaining to someone like you. There’s an irish YouTube channel, “unslaved films” it’s has great info in their “irish origins” series. Although the truth is often too much for the sheeple #crowdfollowers
What do you mean someone like me????
Sorry I didn’t mean it like that honest I say your a really great person, I didn’t mean anything by it honest just check out that channel with an open mind if you want some truth
Mark, you’re an absolute tool. But please do tell me about me based on a picture. Some people see only darkness because it’s what they were looking for in the first place.
Calling others sheep while using hashtags? Hmm
It’s not making me emotional, I don’t care in the slightest
Mark, that’s great! Are you already getting adjusted to a yes victory?
Yet you can’t stop commenting on the subject……funny that.
Great Daves think alike
Oh no, I have to care about something to comment on it now do I? Is that a hidden part of the constitution?
Ata boy Mark. Don’t just let people think you’re a moron.
Come on to forums like this and confirm it.
& I’ll continue to do so for a very long time….
Tell ‘em that Mark Nolan was here and he’ll be back!!!
In fairness Mark, you give good entertainment.
Tell ‘em that Mark Nolan was here and he’ll be BACK!
In fairness Mark, you always give good entertainment. Thanks.
Ha, Mark just called himself a moron
Always good to see Mark admit to being a moron
& you 3 are proving my point, good lads
Heard ya the first time Anto, must be giving you good entertainment alright because you can’t seem to ignore me
C’mon now Dave, I thought you good give better insults than that too
No point, you’re already insulting yourself. It’s not fun anymore
No one on any of the NO groups in opposition to the same sec marriage referendum appear to have any interest in other child welfare issues such as this one on the Journal this evening.
“Teenage girl who attempted suicide says chats with nurses saved her
A report by the Children’s Ombudsman is accusing the government of failing to protect children.”
Why do the NO groups not get involved in these concrete child welfare issues?
Because they’re only interested in FAKE child welfare issues that they made up so as not to look like a nasty bunch of queer bashers.
How do you know they aren’t involved? Do you keep a file on every No voter?
Le Tigre, yes.
Anthony
What are you doing about these children? Except using their story to plug same sex marriage..
Lay off the onions
Please God the thousands of people that left this country due to the polices of the current and last government.. That came back to vote will do the same in the general election next year!
The wonderful thing about this Referendum on same sex marriage is that, if it passes, everyone gains and no body loses. It’s a great day.
Did you ever have a thought you didn’t post here?
Le Tigre, I’ve had a few negative thoughts towards you, never posted them and now feeling so happy that somehow you no longer seem to be of much concern. Join in the joy. Smile.
Be happy. Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be all right.
Yes An important issue – even if the government has used it to distract and take the heat off themselves in order to regroup – vote yes or no and lets get back to getting this shower of sleeveen thieves out of government
Meh !! Anthony excited and probably a bit emotional.Let him off .
Just because I’m voting yes in the marriage referendum doesn’t mean I’m voting for FG/Lab/FF in the GE!
Is there a vote on today? I don’t even know if I’m registered.
No because i dont care what ye do just stop putting it in every1′s face
Welcome home to our emigrants. Respect and admiration to you. You are making an amazing difference and we now have a high probability of a Yes outcome. Thank you and just tell the begrudgers what to do with themselves.
You are making a huge difference! Thanks a million. Ireland owes you.
I voted YES early this morning but I’m not convinced that the majority of these people came home purely to vote, for one thing its a bank holiday in UK, maybe lots were coming home for holiday and decided to do it at the same time….
Well Joan, you know best but I think that we can agree that at least 90% of the returning emigrants will be voting yes. Respect and admiration to them. They may swing a marginal win to a very decisive win.
I’m putting the champagne in the fridge.
Good one Joan,
Sure we all travel home from Germany, Barcelona, etc, for a long weekend.
I personally travel from Ethiopia for all bank holidays. Nonsense
A real man of the people you are….
More unknowable stats from Anthony Lang!
Fair play to them coming all the way home to vote no lol
Its a wonder they did’nt try hijack the plane they do everything else
Just vote the way your conscience tells you to..
Sad people.
They look so cheerful!
Truly hope this is a big YES equality for all go IRELAND
Unless they are retuning immediately, I would have to say that they were coming home anyway and are just jumping on the referendum bandwagon.
Why couldn’t Irish people vote online and not have to travel back to Ireland?
Great to see… wish I could have come back meself. Very proud of my country.
There has never been such a narcissistic response to a vote, ever. It seems to be all about the individual with the posts on facebook of ‘I voted yes’ and people wearing badges ‘I voted’ yes. More about the individual than the issue.
Actually most say ‘i voted yes, did you vote?’ but sure keep sucking that lemon.
In response to a previous discussion that you were engaged in Dave I clearly stated I wasn’t voting. Pay attention!
Why are the no people reacting as if they have already lost?
Where are all these people when we need them for a GE. To defend people’s fight against unjust impositions like IW or USC or property tax ? Or Euro election ? Or local Govt election? Or Any Other Referendum? They are all at least, if not more important ? Or is this just á la Carte democracy ??
What other democracy do yo envisage? Enforced democracy?
We had a general election a few years ago, remember, John Moylan. Now I can’t be sure but it’s a fair guess that most of those people coming home to vote today, if they had a vote in that election, used their vote. A lot probably of them probably voted for this government who have sold this country down the river and have presided over the biggest emigration since the 50′s and 60s. They’re perfectly entitled to come home and vote. I hope they come home next year and vote this government out of office.
Love the mobilisation of people power and home to vote…looks like it will be a good day today….Not sure we will see these people rushing home to change our country at next general election…fingers crossed but i doubt it..
I don’t see why people who don’t live here should have a say on how the country is run or makes its decisions
Yawn !!!!!!
We will have to see how gung ho they will be to vote when it really matters in the next general election
have your say