Overview
- RTÉ revised its top-earners list after reclassifying Derek Mooney as a producer, a change that hid earnings that would have placed him among the broadcaster’s highest-paid presenters.
- The broadcaster confirmed extra payments to Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty totaling about €23,980 across 2024 and 2025 that were not included in earlier public figures.
- Director-General Kevin Bakhurst told the Oireachtas media committee there could be 'one or two cases' of staff earning more than his basic salary and said more than 100 people have held legacy 'personal contracts' that exceed standard pay caps.
- The Government has secured Cabinet approval to bring RTÉ accounts under the Comptroller and Auditor General for greater scrutiny and RTÉ executives have agreed to appear before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee in July.
- The disclosures have damaged public trust, complicated negotiations over talent deals such as Kielty’s renewal, and focused scrutiny on payments routed through personal contracts and independent production companies.