RTÉ have published the highest presenter earnings for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 with
Ryan Tubridy, The Late Late Show host, and RTÉ Radio One presenter, remained the highest-paid presenter at RTÉ with his 2019 pay packet remaining at €495,000, though RTÉ has stated that there is scheduled renegotiation of his contract in 2020. The second-highest-paid was once again Ray D’Arcy, who was paid €450,000, the same sum he received in the previous three years.
Joe Duffy received €392,494, while Marian Finucane who passed away in January 2020, was the highest-paid woman, earning €358,013. Sean O’Rourke, who retired in 2020, received €327,988 and Miriam O’Callaghan was paid €320,000. Claire Byrne was seventh on the list, receiving €250,000, and was followed by Brendan O’Connor on €220,000, Bryan Dobson on €209,282, and Mary Wilson on €196,961.
The national broadcaster stated that the total fees paid to its highest-paid presenters have been reduced "by 15% in 2020", as part of a range of cost-cutting measures announced last year, and that the total fees paid to RTÉ's highest-earning presenters "represent less than 1% of RTÉ's total operating costs."
“Our presenters have been crucial to RTÉ’s output throughout this pandemic, as audiences turned to their national public media in record numbers for vital news, information, entertainment, and companionship, said RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes. "They continue to make a significant contribution to public media in Ireland and enable RTÉ to optimise important commercial revenue, which is essential to support our public services.”
“RTÉ has reduced overall annual operating costs by over €100m since 2008, and last year targeted additional savings of €60m over three years, which we are on course to deliver. In that context, we continue to keep the fees of our highest-paid presenters under constant review."
The pay bill for the 10 highest paid presenters at RTÉ rose to €3.2 million in 2019, up from just above €3 million in 2016, according to figures published by the broadcaster on Wednesday.