FORMER TD George Lee returned to work at RTÉ yesterday exactly a year after he announced he would run for Fine Gael.
Lee began work on the development of “a new cross-media initiative” in the consumer and financial advice area, RTÉ said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for RTÉ said the project would be across television, radio and online services but it was too early to give details on his role as yesterday was his first day back. Because it was a new project, it was not possible to give more specifics, she said.
Lee will also be using his “expertise in statistical analysis” to support the RTÉ business desk, the statement issued yesterday said.
Before his entry into politics, Lee was economics editor with RTÉ where he worked for 17 years. Former Europe editor Seán Whelan succeeded Lee as economic editor.
Lee had been on unpaid leave of absence from RTÉ which ended at the beginning of May. He was expected to return on the grade and salary he had held previously.
RTÉ executives were told of his decision to run for election just an hour before he went on radio to talk about his decision last May. He subsequently won the Dublin South byelection last June on the first count, with over 25,000 votes.
In February, Lee left both Fine Gael and Dáil Éireann in a surprise resignation. He cited a lack of input into Fine Gael’s economic policies as one of the main reasons for his departure.
