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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Clockwise from top left: Deirdre McCarthy, Kevin Bakhurst, Patrick Kielty, Joe Duffy, Brendan O'Connor, Claire Byrne.Alamy/RTÉ top earners Joe Duffy tops RTÉ pay list for 2024 as the broadcaster's executives dominate overall earnings Many of the broadcaster’s biggest pay packets increasingly belong to management, not on-air stars. 4.55pm, 29 Oct 2025 Share options JOE DUFFY REMAINED RTÉ’s highest-paid presenter in 2024, earning €351,000 for the year, the same amount as in 2023, according to the broadcaster’s latest annual report. The veteran Liveline host, who retired this year after 37 years at RTÉ and 27 years fronting the show, once again led the list of top on-air talent. Behind Duffy, the top ten presenters for 2024 were: Joe Duffy: €351,000 Claire Byrne: €280,000 Patrick Kielty: €257,657 Miriam O’Callaghan: €246,708 Brendan O’Connor: €244,099 Ray D’Arcy: €220,409 Mary Wilson: €209,545 Dáithí Ó Sé: €196,885 George Lee: €195,939 Darragh Maloney: €194,902 Notably, Claire Byrne, who was paid €280,000 in 2024, is set to leave RTÉ later this year to join rival broadcaster Newstalk, where she will take over the mid-morning slot from early 2026. Meanwhile, Patrick Kielty has cemented his place among the top earners after taking the helm of RTÉ’s flagship Late Late Show last year. Miriam O’Callaghan, Brendan O’Connor and Ray D’Arcy all recorded pay decreases between 2023 and 2024, while Darragh Maloney, George Lee and Mary Wilson recorded pay bumps on the previous year. While the presenter list continues to draw attention, RTÉ’s newly published figures show that senior management now dominate the top overall earners. Advertisement Director General Kevin Bakhurst was the second-highest paid person at RTÉ in 2024, on €339,954. Under a policy introduced by Bakhurst, no RTÉ employee can earn more than the Director General. His 2024 remuneration comprised a €250,000 salary, €62,500 pension contribution, €25,000 in allowances, and €2,454 in additional payments. He was followed by Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch (€292,285), Director of Operations, Technology and Transformation Richard Waghorn (€287,120), and Managing Director of News & Current Affairs Deirdre McCarthy (€281,187). The publication of both presenter and executive pay is part of RTÉ’s transparency measures, introduced in the wake of the Ryan Tubridy payments controversy. The report also discloses that a former senior executive received a severance payment of €475,000, including legal fees. RTÉ reported a financial surplus for 2024, driven by increased commercial revenue despite continuing declines in licence fee income. The broadcaster said it remains under “significant financial pressure” as it works to deliver on its public service remit while recovering public trust and reforming its operations. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Andrew Walsh View 10 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Joe Duffy tops RTÉ pay list for 2024 as the broadcaster's executives dominate overall earnings”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Joe Duffy tops RTÉ pay list for 2024 as the broadcaster's executives dominate overall earnings”. 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