RTÉ says it has revised its list of its top 10 highest earning presenters for 2024 to include Derek Mooney after it “reconsidered what constitutes a presenter” for the purposes of the list.
Publishing its results for 2025, RTÉ said that, in line with the Government’s Expert Advisory Committee’s recommendations, it made the decision “to consider all personnel holding dual roles” for inclusion in its top 10 highest-earning presenters list.
Derek Mooney had previously been designated as a producer and not a presenter with the broadcaster from 2020 to 2024.
The alteration means that Mr Mooney now appears 8th on a revised 2024 list with a salary of just over €197,000 and 7th for 2025 with earnings of more than €202,000.
This is less than he was earning in 2011, when he was ranked 7th and earning €220,063 – ahead of Sean O’Rourke and Bryan Dobson.
In 2012 and 2013, he was classed as “employee” but reappeared in the top 10 presenter list in 2014 in 10th position but he did not feature on the list in 2015 or subsequent years.
It’s understood Mr Mooney would not have earned enough for inclusion between 2015 and 2019.
On Friday morning, Morning Ireland played back a debate on the issue of Mr Mooney’s listing on Thursday night’s Prime Time.
RTÉ board chair Terence O’Rourke was asked why Mr Mooney had been reclassified as a presenter and included on the latest list.
He told the programme: “Derek has done many roles in RTÉ over the years.
“He’s been TV presenter or radio presenter and he’s had different contracts.
“In 2020 his contract was as a producer, that was the contract he entered into, and it was agreed with him in 2020.”
He added: “The issue is, we looked at where he is now and he’s definitely presenting now.
“So we wanted to get the method right, and he’s in the list this year.”
Asked what constitutes a presenter, Mr O’Rourke replied: “Different people made different judgments at the time.
“Obviously, if somebody does like 90% presentation, and 10% production, or somebody else does 90% production, 10% presentation – different people can take different views as whether that should be listed.
“Somebody else made a different judgment at the different that time. We made a judgment this year that (he) should be in.”
Asked who took the view that Mr Mooney as “a man who’s on radio and television on a regular basis”, was a producer and not a presenter, Mr O’Rourke replied: “Management at the time made that decision”.
RTÉ’s Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst, and Chairperson of RTÉ Terence O’Rourke. File Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
When UCC presented him with an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Science in recognition of his immense contribution in the field of natural history broadcasting in October 2022, he was referred to as a “journalist, producer, and presenter”.
As well as acknowledging a career spanning five decades, and as a pioneer in broadcasting on environmental issues – including his Mooney Goes Wild on – RTÉ Radio 1 – his presenting roles were recognized.
UCC’s President Professor John O’Halloran said: “Derek Mooney is the voice of nature and wildlife in Ireland.
“He has been a powerful voice for wildlife and wildlife researchers and citizen scientists who contribute to data collection on our birds, butterflies, bees and plants across the nation and has inspired generations of wildlife biologists.
“His impact extends beyond Ireland to Europe and North Africa as part of his extraordinary Dawn Chorus Marathon – involving citizens, scientists, multiple broadcasting teams and managing to do this live in the wild.”
Tribute was also paid to his role as “RTÉ’s Executive Producer for Nature Programming”.
The broadcaster has confirmed that Claire Byrne, since departed to Newstalk, was RTÉ’s top earner last year with €280,000 through Derrough Media.
Meanwhile, two of RTÉ’s former presenters, Claire Byrne and Ray D’Arcy were among the state broadcaster’s top 10 earners in 2025.
Claire Byrne, since departed to Newstalk, was RTÉ’s top earner last year with €280,000 through Derrough Media.
The second-highest was Patrick Kielty, whose future as the host of The Late Late Show was in doubt in recent weeks, with €266,323 through Pamanco Ireland.
Miriam O’Callaghan, through Baby Blue Productions, received €244,797; Brendan O’Connor received €239,998 through BOC Communications and Ray D’Arcy, who left the station accusing RTÉ of treating him “really badly” earned €219,992 through Whatnext Productions.
All of the top five were referred to as contractors by RTÉ.
The remainder of the top five are classed as employees.
David McCullagh received €206,393; Derek Mooney was paid €202,264; Darragh Moloney earned €197,840; George Lee was paid €194,406; and
Dáithí Ó Sé, who is classed as an employee and contractor received €192,809.