Presenter Pat Kenny and RTÉ director general Cathal Goan have responded to reports that Kenny's talks on a new contract for the Late Late Showhave stalled, saying they expect the negotiations to be finalised before September 1st.
Newspaper reports claimed the negotiations between Kenny and the broadcaster for the Friday night show had run into difficulties over the duration of the contract on offer.
Mr Goan and Kenny, who earned €849,000 from RTÉ in 2006, issued a statement in response to what they said was “recent, ill-informed press speculation and comment”.
“Contract negotiations are a standard part of broadcasting life,” the statement said.
“A multi-annual contract between RTÉ and Pat Kenny is in the final stages of negotiation; it is expected that negotiations will be finalised before September 1st. Neither party will be making any further comment on the issue until the process is complete.”
Kenny told the Irish Independenthe remained "absolutely confident" he will appear in the first Late Late Showof the new season.
The report quoted Kenny as saying speculation about his future was “nonsense”.
“I can't go into detail about how far we are down the line, but there is no disagreement," he said. "Nothing can happen while the director general is away. Cathal Goan is in Donegal at the moment and, while I may be mooching around here, nothing can happen."