RTÉ has released its bi-annual report on the national broadcaster’s top-paid presenters.
The figures from 2020 and 2021 confirm that The Late Late Show host, Ryan Tubridy remains the top earner.
It also highlighted RTÉ reduced total fees paid to its highest-paid presenters by more than 15 per cent in both 2020 and 2021.
Ryan Tubridy, who has topped the list for the past few years, earned €466,250 in 2020 and €440,000 the following year in line with the 15 per cent reduction promise.
In both 2020 and 2021, the top five were made up of Ryan, with Joe Duffy, Claire Byrne, Ray D’Arcy and Miriam O’Callaghan following behind.
Ray D’arcy slipped from second spot to third spot in 2020 and then fourth in 2021 with a salary of €305,000.
Meanwhile, Joe Duffy moved into the second highest earner spot making €360,650 in 2020 and €351,000 the following year.
Claire Byrne, who hosted Claire Byrne Live during these years, became the fourth highest earner in 2020 with a salary of €282,917 before moving into the third spot in 2021 when she earned €350,000.
Miriam O’Callaghan moved from the sixth highest earner to the fifth with a salary of €263,500 both years.
Brendan O’Connor claimed the sixth spot in both 2020 and 2021 taking home €238,753 in 2020 and then €245,004 the following year.
Brian Dobson and Mary Wilson made up the seventh and eighth spots in both years. While Darragh Maloney, Áine Lawlor and George Lee all joined the top earner lists in recent years.
RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes, said: “Today we are publishing the fees paid to RTÉ’s highest-paid presenters for 2020 and 2021, which confirms a total reduction of more than 15 per cent.
“Our presenters play an important role in RTÉ’s provision of vital news, information and entertainment to audiences right across the country and enable us to generate commercial revenue which is essential to fund RTÉ’s public services.
“We are aware that the fees of high-profile presenters attract considerable public interest. Over the past 15 years RTÉ has reduced these fees by c. 40 per cent. We continue to keep them under review.”
