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Traditionally, it’s been the on-air talent leading the earnings table. This year, however, there has been a shake-up and the suits are now outpacing the stars on the payscale. RTÉ’s 2024 annual report reveals that director general Kevin Bakhurst ranks second on the broadcaster’s list of top earners, just behind former Liveline presenter Joe Duffy. Rounding out the top five are deputy director general Adrian Lynch, director of operations, technology and transformation Richard Waghorn, and managing director of news and current affairs Deirdre McCarthy. On-air talent, once the undisputed leaders in pay, has now been relegated to the lower rungs of the salary ladder. But with Newstalk snapping up big-name presenters, could RTÉ’s pay cuts signal the start of a slide for the national broadcaster? And as fresh revelations emerge about unorthodox payments, is another storm brewing over Montrose headquarters? Revelations and questions surrounding valuable artwork, a plot of land and some pension top-ups are causing headaches for RTÉ. Today on The Indo Daily, the Irish Independent’s Ireland editor, Fionnán Sheahan, lifts the lid on who’s really cashing in at RTÉ and why Montrose just can’t seem to shake the controversy.
