REVEALED: Joe Duffy tops the charts as new report details RTÉ's highest earners and huge deficit

National Broadcaster RTÉ has published it's long-awaited 2023 report, detailing the company's deficit, operating costs and highest earners.

The expansive document was published by the organisation today, with the report admitting that 2023 was a "challenging year" for RTÉ. The organisation revealed they returned a net deficit of €9.1 million in 2023.

RTÉ said the decline in TV licence revenues, an increase in operating costs, and the broadcast of special events contributed to the deficit for 2023.

Operating costs, excluding Special Events, increased by €9.3 million year-on-year (€341.9 million in 2023 vs €332.6 million in 2022) as the 2022 pay agreement with the TUG took effect and the Irish economy entered a high inflation environment.

For the first time, and in line with the previous commitment of RTE Director-General Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ published in its annual report the earnings of its ten highest-paid on air presenters for the year, as well as remuneration details of the permanent members of its Board.

Speaking on the release, Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General of RTÉ said that in response to the challenging year the organisation faced, the Director "along with my leadership team and the Board of RTÉ, have faced the key issues head on and been committed to delivering the transformation RTÉ needs to rebuild trust and restore confidence, both internally and externally".

"Through an unprecedented reform agenda, we have delivered greater transparency, rigour in our decision-making and more financial discipline, while focusing on the future and fulfilling our ambition for RTÉ. We are grateful to all those who have paid their TV Licence during this period," Bakhurst added.

Featured deep into the 278-page report was the list of the company's highest-earning presenters in 2023, as well as the earnings of the RTÉ Board in 2023.

Former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy remained in the top earners, despite his controversial departure in August 2023.

The full list of the top 10 highest paid presenters in RTÉ for 2023 was as follows;

1. Joe Duffy (€351,000)

2. Claire Byrne (€280,000)

3. Miriam O'Callaghan (€263,500)

4. Ray Darcy (€250,000)

5. Ryan Tubridy (€245,278)

6. Brendan O'Connor (€245,004)

7. Mary Wilson (€199,194)

8. Bryan Dobson (€194,319)

9. Darragh Moloney (€186,650)

10. George Lee (€185,674)

The list for the RTÉ top earners on RTÉ's Permanent Leadership Team in 2024 are as follows;

1. Adrian Lynch (€286,926)

2. Richard Waghorn (€281,750)

3. Eimear Cusack (€274,815)

4. Deirdre McCarthy (€273,490)

5. Paula Mulooly (€260,160)

6. Kevin Bakhurst (€161,767)

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