The latest embarrassment for the national broadcaster came about because it did not include separate producer fees paid to presenter Derek Mooney when calculating the pay of its top 10 highest earners in previous years, from 2020 to 2024.
It means the Mooney Goes Wild presenter should have featured in the 2024 top 10 list, at No 8 on €197,151. Last year he was at No.7, being paid €202,264.
Claire Byrne, who left RTÉ in 2025, was paid €280,000 by the broadcaster last year, followed by Patrick Kielty on €266,323 and Miriam O’Callaghan on €244,797.
Derek Mooney. Photo: Mark Condren
News in 90 seconds – Thursday, May 14
The development is hugely embarrassing in the wake of the separate Ryan Tubridy payments scandal.
In a statement this evening, RTÉ said: “In line with the implementation of the Government’s Expert Advisory Committee’s recommendations, RTÉ has reconsidered what constitutes a “presenter” for the purposes of compiling the Top Ten Table for 2025. RTÉ has made the decision to consider all personnel holding dual roles (such as producer-presenter, or editor-presenter etc) for inclusion in RTÉ’s top 10 highest-earning presenters for 2025.
RTÉ’s top ten earners in 2025
“RTÉ’s reconsideration has led to the inclusion of Derek Mooney in the list. He currently undertakes some presenting duties as part of his dual role as producer/presenter and, as such, is included in the top ten table.
“For clarity, in 2020 (and up to and including 2024) Derek was designated by RTÉ as a producer, and not as a presenter, in line with his contract of employment.”
Terence O’Rourke, chair of the board of RTÉ, said: “The board supports the ongoing commitment by RTÉ to transparency, as evidenced in today’s announcement. We acknowledge the scrutiny brought by RTÉ in preparing RTÉ’s 2025 annual report and fully support the decision to review the previous categorisations of RTÉ’s top ten highest-paid presenters.”
Director-general Kevin Bakhurst said: “In keeping with RTÉ’s commitment to increased transparency, we are today confirming – and publishing – our decision to include all those presenters who are in dual roles in the annual top ten presenters. As well as publishing the list for 2025, we are also re-presenting the top 10 list for 2024 for consistency and comparison purposes. The list also confirms the continued application of the RTÉ pay cap for all RTÉ employees at the level of pay of the director-general.”
Further down in the 2025 list of top ten earners revealed today were at No.4 Brendan O’Connor on €239,988, followed by Ray D’Arcy, who has now departed RTÉ, on €219,992, David McCullagh on €206,393, Darragh Maloney in eighth on €197,840, George Lee on €194,406, and Dáithí Ó Sé in 10th place on €192,809.
Kielty, RTÉ’s second-highest earner last year wrapped up his third season presenting The Late Late Show two weeks ago but a deal for him to return has yet to be done.
The DG’s salary has a knock-on effect because he has stipulated that nobody else in Montrose can earn more than him, including the stars. Mr Bakhurst is due to get a pay rise of €20,000, taking him to €270,000, which would allow more room for manoeuvre for Kielty. It is believed that his return to hosting duties is the most likely outcome.
Earlier on Thursday, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee announced it would be turning its attentions to RTÉ’s finances again.
PAC’s interest was piqued by 41 RTÉ staffers travelling to Prague for the World Cup qualifier between Ireland and Czechia.
That level of largesse seemed at odds with the pleas of poverty coming from RTÉ that resulted in a €725m bailout over three years.
Now the RTÉ top brass can expect another batch of questions about its accounting practice.