Tubridy’s earnings cut by 31% as RTÉ slashes presenters’ pay

RTÉ has made good on its promise to slash the earnings of its best-paid stars.

Most have taken cuts of at least 30 per cent, according to the latest figures released by the broadcaster.

Ryan Tubridy was the best-paid presenter in 2011 with earnings of €723,000, up 12 per cent on 2010, reflecting his role as presenter of the Late Late Show and flagship presenter on 2fm.

But his fee was cut to €495,000 last year, a reduction of 31.5 per cent. RTÉ has for the first time decided to disclose what it paid its stars last year. Previously the station published the earnings figures two years in arrears.

Two years ago RTÉ director general Noel Curran promised to reduce the fees of the station's top 10 staff by at least 30 per cent. The commitment came against a backdrop of public anger about the scale of prominent presenters' remuneration.

Pat Kenny was paid €630,000 in 2011. RTÉ has not disclosed his fees for 2012 as his contract is still under negotiation, though a similar reduction would see his fee reduced to €441,000, at which point he would lose to Tubridy his status as RTÉ's best-paid presenter.

Marian Finucane took a 40 per cent cut in her earnings, which were down from €492,000 in 2011 to €295,000 last year.

Her earnings are now almost half what they were in 2008, when she negotiated a contract worth €570,000 a year.

Joe Duffy is on €300,000 in his latest contract. Sean O'Rourke was paid nearly €209,000 in 2011.

George Hamilton received nearly €203,000 that year, dropping to €168,000 in his new contract.

Bryan Dobson was paid just under €198,000 in 2011 while Miriam O'Callaghan is now on €211,000.

2fm presenter Com Hayes is on €170,000, a 21 per cent reduction on his 2009 fee.

Brendan O'Connor is the newest edition to the RTÉ top 10, earning €228,500 in 2011, reduced to €158,000 last year for the Saturday Night Show .