RTÉ EXECUTIVES were told of George Lee’s decision to run for election late yesterday morning just an hour before he went on radio to talk about his decision.
A spokeswoman for RTÉ said denials he would be a candidate in the byelection had been issued on the basis of his response to rumours some time ago that he would be running for Fine Gael.
Mr Lee said he had only begun to think seriously about running for Fine Gael after the emergency budget a month ago and had made a final decision last weekend.
RTÉ said it regretted Mr Lee’s decision to resign his post. “George has made an excellent contribution . . . He is now on unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the campaign. Members of staff may take unpaid leave in order to stand for an electoral position.”
The statement added that they could return to RTÉ but were not automatically entitled to return to the position they left.
Mr Lee’s accrued pension benefits for 17 years of service to RTÉ will be frozen and paid on retirement age, according to the spokeswoman who added no further contributions would be paid by RTÉ.
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