Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy has said RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst may have done him a favour when he released him from his contract following the payments controversy in 2023.

Speaking on RTÉ's Sunday with Miriam programme today, Mr Tubridy said: "I've had a very different life since then."

"I'm a very different person to the one you would have met two and a half years ago.

'I've had a very different life since then - London, new opportunities, new friends, new places to be, time to breathe. I think I felt a sense of liberation [when he left RTÉ]. I've got loads of things going on [now]," he explained.

Mr Tubridy left RTÉ in 2023 following weeks of controversy relating to the organisation publicly under-reporting payments to him.

Two months later, RTÉ's Director General Kevin Bakhurst said there were "no plans" for the presenter to return to RTÉ Radio 1.

Speaking today, Mr Tubridy said there are lots of things he would do differently in retrospect and that he also accepts responsibility for his part in the payments controversy in 2023 that led to his departure from RTÉ.

"In reality, looking back on everything, I would be inclined to examine things a little closer and say, well, look, maybe we should look at this and look at that. And, you know, there was a kind of bizarre sequence of events that led to where we got to in the end."

"I will take responsibilty for my mistakes," Mr Tubridy said, "but I respectfully contend that there was a wall of scandal and I was just a brick in that wall."

Mr Tubridy said that he appreciated Mr Bakhurst saying that RTÉ takes the bulk of the blame for what happened during the payments controversy.

"Although I also accept responsibility for my part," Mr Tubridy added.

Mr Tubridy pointed out that he has re-paid €150,000 to RTÉ, even though he was under no legal obligation to do so.

"The real thing I messed up on," he said, "is that I did not step up in 2020 and correct incorrect salary statements that were published then."

"We didn't have any notice that this was to be published," he said, "but I should have gone and looked at the number and said that doesn't tally with that."

"I should have stood up and said that's not right. That was definitely my bad and and I regret that," Mr Tubridy added.