Director general of RTÉ, Dee Forbes, has resigned with immediate effect after controversy over undisclosed payments to presenter Ryan Tubridy.

The TV and radio host was paid €345,000 (£296,800) more than had been published in the Irish broadcaster’s earnings reports.

Mr Tubridy received the payments between 2017 and 2022.

In a statement on Monday, external, Ms Forbes said she had “engaged with and consistently co-operated with the processes directed towards answering questions surrounding payments to Ryan Tubridy”.

“As director general, I am the person ultimately accountable for what happens within the organisation and I take that responsibility seriously,” she added.

“I am tendering my resignation to RTÉ with immediate effect.”

Mr Tubridy recently stood down as the host of RTÉ One’s The Late Late Show, Ireland’s longest-running TV chat show, with Northern Ireland comedian Patrick Kielty announced as his replacement.

Mr Tubridy hosted the talk show since 2009 after he took over from Pat Kenny.

The Late Late Show is considered the second longest-running late-night talk show in the world, after the Tonight Show in the US.

Mr Tubridy also hosts a weekday show on RTÉ Radio One, but has not been on air since the controversy surrounding payments made to him arose.