Take Bak control..

NEW RTE DIRECTOR GENERAL PROMISES RADICAL OVERHAUL

- SANDRA MALLON and JOHN KIERANS

• Varadkar says time to overhaul the licence fee
• Tubs keen to tell his side of story tomorrow

RTE'S new Director General Kevin Bakhurst is set to "radically" overhaul the station when he takes up his new role today.

Mr Bakhurst, who will have a salary of €306,000, takes the helm in the middle of a hurricane of revelations about its highest-paid star Ryan Tubridy, his agent Noel Kelly and the station's handling of public funds through barter accounts.

The former Ofcom group director insisted it is now a "time for action" at the troubled broadcaster.

Yesterday he said: "I'd rather not say too much ahead of tomorrow, just say we're going to be in contact with staff first thing in the morning via email.

"I'll be going around meeting people, trying to take questions and explain what we're trying to do.

"The only thing I'll say to people is it's time for action now, that's all we need."

Earlier Minister of State Thomas Byrne described Mr Bakhurst's arrival at RTE as a "really good moment" as the broadcaster attempts to rebuild trust.

Appearing on RTE I's The Week In Politics programme, Mr Byrne also suggested there has been too much focus on commercial activity at RTE and a return to the "basics of public service broadcasting" is needed. On Saturday Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also called for change.

Speaking in Co Clare, he said: "I think we need to see change in RTE. Without change, I don't think that trust can be restored.