Overview
- Minister Patrick O’Donovan called on Friday for RTÉ payments since 2020 to be examined and set a department meeting for Tuesday with the chair and director general.
- RTÉ, which re-presented its 2024 list on Thursday, added Derek Mooney at €197,151 after deciding to include staff who work in dual producer–presenter roles.
- Director General Kevin Bakhurst said the 2020 move to classify Mooney as a producer was legally justifiable, though he endorsed a new transparency standard that treats him as a presenter.
- RTÉ also disclosed that Claire Byrne received €47,000 and Ray D’Arcy €50,000 after they left air in October 2025 under contracts that ran to year-end.
- The changes stem from a May 2024 governance review prompted by the Ryan Tubridy payments controversy and could bring further disclosures, including Mooney’s 2020–2023 earnings if he consents.