RADIO Ireland's new controller of programmes, Mr John Caden, has said there are no plans for Gay Byrne to join the new national radio station.
Mr Caden, who has been a close friend of Gay Byrne since he first worked as a researcher on the Late Late Show 25 years ago, said his move to Radio Ireland had no implications for Mr Byrne.
"I know nothing of Gay's plans. As far as I know there is no truth in the speculation that he is joining Radio Ireland. I don't even know if he would want to."
Mr Caden's appointment is seen as hugely strengthening the radio production skills at the top at Radio Ireland since the station and its former chief executive, Mr Dan Collins, parted just before the station was launched last St Patrick's Day.
The chief executive, Mr Dick Hill, had a career in television and the executive chairman, Mr John McColgan, is also a former RTE television producer and more recently a producer of Riverdance and independent television programmes.
Mr Caden was approached by Mr Hill only two weeks ago. For someone who has been at RTE for the past 28 years leaving was both difficult and easy. He had admired the "professionalism" of Radio Ireland, the way the station had come together from scratch, the way all the start up difficulties had been dealt with.
He has been particularly impressed by the music policy and singles out John Kelly's Eclectic Ballroom for special mention.
However, his own background must mean that Radio Ireland is still safe for talk radio.
After the Late Late Show he went to radio, where he has more for less remained, with only the odd foray into television. He was the producer of the Gay Byrne Radio Show, where he won a Jacobs Award, and his concept of talk radio defined the format.
He was also producer of Today At Five and editor of Morning Ireland.
Recently he devised and produced Fandango, the evening magazine programme presented by Carrie Crowley and Ray D'Arcy. Ms Crowley will be one of the two presenters of this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
Fandango gives an indication of the type of radio he favours. It is light and breezy, with a mix of interviews, music, wit and what might be classed as lifestyle items, designed to appeal to Radio Ireland's target audience of 25 to 45 year olds.
As to speculation that major changes are on the way in response to criticism of some programmes, he says simply that Radio Ireland will change continually and that there will be a continuous internal critique.
Some of those programmes that have been criticised, such as Daybreak with Emily O'Reilly and Gavin Duffy, are now "coming together" and settling down, he says.
He believes Irish people like talk radio. They enjoy debate and controversy. The question for radio is how to approach debates taking place in Ireland. In a post divorce Ireland, debates are framed by the place of the individual and his or her responsibility, he says.
The first major test facing Radio Ireland will be its coverage of the general election. There are no plans yet, but Mr Muiris Mac Conghail, a former RTE controller of television programmes and former Government Press Secretary, has been commissioned to plan the coverage.
There are no accurate figures as to how many people are listening to Radio Ireland yet, he says, although "anecdotal evidence would suggest that everyone is listening to it. Certainly everyone in RTE is listening to Radio Ireland".