Taoiseach defends appearing on Ryan Tubridy’s podcast to discuss his favourite books [Video]

TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS has defended appearing on Ryan Tubridy’s podcast saying that he does not feel it is bad taste given he manner of the broadcaster’s departure from RTÉ.

Harris is the first guest on the second season of Tubridy’s podcast On The Bookshelf, in which the guests discuss their favourite books and the influnce of books on their lives. 

Since leaving RTÉ, Tubridy now hosts a daily show on Virgin Radio in London which is also broadcast on Q102. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Daily Mail on Sunday.

RTÉ was plunged into crisis in June last year after it admitted understating the fees for its star presenter and previous top-earner Tubridy.

The fallout from the controversy has led to cash-strapped RTÉ facing a deepening funding crisis and a plan for 400 job cuts. 

Asked by reporters yesterday why he had agreed to be a guest on the podcast in those circumstances, Harris said …