Longford Fine Gael Senator Micheál Carrigy provoked a somewhat emotional response from Ryan Tubridy this afternoon when he asked him if he could say that none of the money raised for charity on the Late Late show in recent years went to any part of RTE.
Senator Carrigy is a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee which was being attended this afternoon by Mr Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly.
Earlier today Mr Tubridy said the RTÉ payments controversy categorically had nothing to do with his decision to leave the Late Late Show.
Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly gave evidence to both the Public Accounts Committee and the Media Committee for several hours today.
Both insist the sole fault for the under-reporting of his salary lies with RTÉ.
Tubridy also says he took a significant pay cut on his previous contract.
Asked by Senator Carrigy this evening about the money raised for charity by the Late Late Show in recent years, the RTE presenter says it'll be his "greatest legacy" if he has to leave the broadcaster.
Senator Carrigy: 'Just in relation to the Toy Show Fund, questions that have been asked , is that all 100% , the monies raised in the Toy Show Fund, 100% goes out to charities, none of it goes to RTE?'
Ryan Tubridy: 'It's one of the greatest legacies I'll have, even if I am given the royal order of the boot from RTE on Friday, I'll be able to walk out of those gates with my head held high, knowing that Irish people, year in year out , in the last three years, offered, year one €6 million , year 2 €6 million, year 3 €4 million, out of their back pockets when things weren't really going very well, and they have gone to 32 counties on this island to children's charities, it is a beautiful thing.'
