RTÉ HAS REVISED its top-earning presenters list of 2024 to include Derek Mooney as he was not included in the original list due to being classified as a producer.

Mooney now appears eighth on the 2024 list with a salary of €197,151.

Publishing its results for 2025, RTÉ said it revised the list after it “reconsidered what constitutes a “presenter” for the purposes of compiling the Top Ten Table for 2025″.

It said it did so in line with the implementation of the government’s Expert Advisory.

In a statement, it said: “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 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.”

Claire Byrne, who recently moved from the national broadcaster to Newstalk, topped the list of RTÉ’s top-earning presenters list of 2025, earning €280,000.

This title was held by Joe Duffy in 2024, who earned €351,000 for the year, the same amount as in 2023.

The top 10 presenters for 2025 were:

1. Claire Byrne: €280,000
2. Patrick Kielty: €266,323
3. Miriam O’Callaghan: €244,797
4. Brendan O’Connor: €239,988
5. Ray D’Arcy: €219,992
6. David McCullagh: €206,393
7. Derek Mooney: €202,264
8. Darragh Maloney: €197,840
9. George Lee: €194,406
10. Dáithí Ó Sé: €192,809

Kevin Bakhurst, director general of RTÉ, 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.”  

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.”